"I'm Being Followed by a Storm Shadow"

Crimea Situation, Odesa Update

Jul 25, 2023

War Day 517: Crimea, Counter-Offensive, Missile Forecast, and: Where Are the Jets?

"I'm Being Followed by a Storm Shadow" 500+ DAYS OF WAR-REPORTING—from Monday 24 July: my Ukraine report on Chicago's @wgnradio with Bob Sirott, delivered every weekday since Russia's full-scale invasion KHARKIV—Russian bloggers say that Ukrainians, using the long-range Storm Shadow missiles, have successfully hit Moscow munitions depots in Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukrainians have shown they won't quit, but until more such weapons arrive, Russia will continue to throw tantrums like hitting civilians, churches, and comestibles in Odesa.

Cover art inspired by: "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens

War Day 516: Russians Attack Odesa Cathedral; Russian-speaking Odesa Mayor Fires Back, Fiercely

KHARKIV—Moscow pummelled Odesa over the weekend, hitting the city centre including a Russian Orthodox Church. Putin's attacks on the "Pearl of the Black Sea" show that he no longer believes he can take these precious cities; now, he simply tries to destroy. "

If you only knew how much Odesa hates you, not just hates you but despises you," says the Russian-speaking Odesa mayor in a message to the invader. "You know us Odesans very poorly. You are creatures without kith or kin , morality or values, without future."

Video by Witold Newelicz

Weekly Fundraiser: Thermal scope for Roman: $4,100.00

With Lviv’s Deepinspire Foundation, every week we are raising funds for warriors in Ukraine's counteroffensive. Help us this week to purchase more drones and night visions. Link above! Together, to victory!

Before Roman decided to dedicate his life to the military, he worked as a veterinarian in civilian life. In 2017, he enlisted in the military on a contract basis, starting his journey as a driver-mechanic of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle in the fierce 6th Separate Motorized Brigade.
In the army, he met many good people who became his brothers and good friends. Thanks to his diligence and eagerness to learn, he became the senior driver of his platoon after only 8 months of service, and another 8 months later, he became the senior driver of the company. After completing his 3-year contract, Roman was offered a position as the deputy commander of a BMP in the battalion's reconnaissance unit.
After completing his second contract term, he returned to his family in Bila Tserkva (Whitechurch). However, the peaceful civilian life didn't last long because a year later, with the onset of the full-scale invasion, he was mobilized into the 72nd Separate Motorized Brigade and took part in the defense of Kyiv. Later, he was injured near Bakhmut and, after receiving treatment, was assigned to the 44th Separate Motorized Brigade, where he took command of the reconnaissance observation detachment.
The guys are in great need of a thermal sight to enhance their own safety and effectively carry out combat missions.
Roman dreams of the war ending and plans to pursue a career as an agriculturist. He wants to work in his profession on his native land and is doing everything possible to make his dream and the dreams of many of his brothers in arms come true as soon as possible.

We welcome donations here.

Regular Resources:

Air-Raid Alert Map

State of the War Map: shows Russian positions and what Ukrainians have taken back; updated daily

Mriya Report: a 24/7 Twitter audio channel featuring the best Ukrainian volunteers and representatives

“[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.

*UKRAINIAN FREEDOM NEWS: Please support us by subscribing and sharing this newsletter with your friends, colleagues, and family. Donations welcome here.*

ABOUT US: Reporting Every Single Weekday Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

"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.

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.

Follow us across various social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or via UkrainianFreedomNews.com.

Please support us by sharing this newsletter with your friends, colleagues, and family.

UKRAINIAN FREEDOM NEWS

Truth to the World | Supplies to Ukraine

Joe Lindsley, Editor-in-chief
Vitalii Gulden, Creative Producer
Beata Szrom, Operations Director
Jean-Baptiste Besson, Field Editor
Brennan Phillips, War Columnist

Ukrainian Freedom News