Russian Navy on the Run: From Black Sea to Caribbean
Why was a Ukrainian hero barred from Berlin?
Want to know what’s happening in Ukraine? Read on for the real intelligence and mood.
War Day 838:
Night of Air Raids and Resilience: Despite a sleepless night filled with air raid alarms and missile attacks, Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted all missiles targeting Kyiv.
Strategic Military Victories: Ukraine celebrates significant victories, including the destruction of a high-tech Russian stealth jet and three critical radar systems in Crimea, bolstered by the permission to use American weapons in the region.
Political Controversies Unveiled: Mustafa Nayyem, a hero of Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity, faces travel restrictions. Is this retribution for uncovering bribery schemes? Plus, questions arise about the power and influence of President Zelensky's top advisor, Andrew Yermak.
—JOE LINDSLEY and TEAM in UKRAINE
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WGN RADIO DAILY WAR JOURNAL
War Day 838: Night of Air Raids, Ukrainian Victories and Political Controversies
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 | Watch, Listen, or Read — about 10 minutes
The following is based on a transcript with host WENDY SNYDER in CHICAGO and reporter JOE LINDSLEY in UKRAINE. Watch above or listen below the report as it aired live on WGN Radio. TODAY, Joe is in LVIV—
TODAY’S INSIDER UKRAINE REPORT:
Sleepless Nights in Lviv: The Russian Missile Dance Macabre
It was a night of many air raid alarms throughout the country, so a bit sleepless for many people. The Russian missiles did their usual dance macabre, as I always call it. I'm here in Lviv, and we get reports, oh, missiles are coming west. And then at the last second, oh, they're turning to the east, to the north, to the south, and people are always texting each other saying, oh, it looks like missiles are going your direction. And in the end, most of them seemed to convene upon Kyiv.
Air Defense Triumph: Kyiv's Protection Against Russian Missiles
In the end, Ukrainian air defense intercepted it seems all of the missiles that Russia directed toward Kyiv. But there was of course damage as there is from the falling debris, and there was at least one missile that's somewhere in the country that seems to have hit its target. Lately, a lot of these Russian midnight attacks have been on Ukrainian infrastructure, and indeed the power situation is still pretty difficult. People get used to it, but rolling blackouts are the norm in many places.
High-Tech Victory: Ukraine Downs Russian Stealth Jet
On the positive side for Ukraine, the Russian jet that Ukrainians destroyed a few days ago, that was a Russian stealth—not as good as the American stealth bomber—but a very high tech Russian jet. And when it's in the sky, it's almost impossible to destroy because it can evade interception. But on the ground, Ukrainians hit it with a drone in its vulnerable point deep into Russian territory. So that is a big success for Ukraine.
Strategic Strikes: Ukraine Targets Radar Systems in Crimea
Meanwhile, now it's confirmed that in the Crimean Peninsula in the South, Ukraine has destroyed three radar systems for Russian missile launchers. This is huge. Now, Ukraine has permission to use American weapons to hit such targets like that in the Crimean Peninsula, which is technically Ukrainian sovereign territory. And from that peninsula, the Russians have been attacking places like Odessa. And so taking out three radar systems for missile launchers is extraordinary.
Russian Navy on the Run: From Black Sea to Caribbean
And then I'm sure many in America have seen the news of Russian ships in the Caribbean Sea. If you see some of the headlines, it sounds like Armageddon and everyone should be terrified. And certainly it's unsettling, the Russian exercises with Russian ships at Havana. But one thing to keep in mind, from the Ukrainian perspective: It is very dangerous for a Russian ship to be in the Black Sea because Ukrainians have become so adept at destroying them with Ukrainian sea drones.
And the Russian Navy has been on the run in the Black Sea. People in Ukraine joke that the Russian Navy had to flee all the way to the Caribbean to get away from the reach of Ukrainian drones. I think if Ukrainians with no Navy and just with their sea drones are able to put the Russian Navy on the run, I don't think United States has huge reason to be concerned if the Ukrainians can handle this. Just some perspective on that!
Reconstruction Controversy: Mustafa Nayyem Barred from Berlin Conference
As I promised yesterday that I would mention there were two controversial stories circulated now. So one, there's this guy, Mustafa Nayyem. He was in charge of the reconstruction office in the Ukrainian government, and he was planning to go to a major conference in Berlin this week on Ukrainian reconstruction. And so you would think you'd want the chief of the reconstruction office there.
He was informed as he was trying to travel to Berlin that he was forbidden from leaving Ukraine. All Ukrainian males between 18 and 60 need permission to travel. And he was refused travel. He told the Financial Times that the Prime Minister was specifically forbidding him from leaving the country.
Hero of the Revolution: Mustafa Nayyem's Impact and Restrictions
This has upset many people because Mustafa Nayyem is a hero from Ukraine's 2014 Revolution of Dignity. When the pro-Russian regime of Yanukovych was in power, starting in the fall of 2013, they started to try to pull Ukraine more in the orbit of Moscow and away from freedom and democracy. Students started to protest. And Mustafa Nayyem, he was an investigative journalist, he tweeted about 10:30 at night on November 21st, 2013, he said, “get your tea, get your umbrellas, and come to the Maidan,” come the main square of Kyiv.
And that from that moment that began the Revolution of Dignity, that pulled Ukraine away from Moscow, Soviet-minded control.
And so he's really credited with being the catalyst of that for the next months. People didn't leave the square. More and more people showed up, even as the secret police began to fire bullets at them. And ultimately that led to the government fleeing to Russia in February of 2014.
Optics and Allegations: The Ban's Broader Implications
As Putin said in the video the other day, this war is about 2014. And I think people, the heroes of that revolution know it as well, because that was a moment when Putin could no longer control Ukraine the way he does say Belarus.
And so for Mustafa Nayyem, even the optics of it, for him to be forbidden from leaving the country to go to that conference and for him to resign it is a big thing here. And I know other Ukrainians who were forbidden from going to that conference at a lower level. So that is a big concern.
Corruption and Power Struggles: Accusations in Reconstruction Office
And then this ties into the other story. Today at the publication, New Voice in Ukraine, one of Mustafa Nayyem’s colleagues in fighting corruption wrote a piece saying that Nayyem and another colleague in the office of Reconstruction had been uncovering bribery schemes. And they had reported these to the anti-corruption board. The accusation of Nayyem’s allies is that the government didn't want them to report these things. They wanted them to solve it more quietly or something.
Zelensky’s Inner Circle: Questions of Power and Influence
And this goes into the other big story in the Times of London a few days ago, there was a story about President Zelenskiy’s top advisor, Andrew Yermak. And this story was building up on a story that was in the Washington Post about a month ago saying, Yermak is unelected and more and more, not just people in Ukraine, but a lot of people abroad are starting to question his power.
The headline in the Times of London was “Court of Zelensky, rocked by aide’s thirst for Power.” And then this week there, even with the optics of seeing Yermak by himself, meeting with the Pope, usually only a head of state or head of government would do that. These concerns are simmering.
I do know from talking with most Ukrainians, they don't like that guy, but Ukrainians don't like people in power. That was the story of 2014. It doesn't mean that he's actually doing anything wrong, and none of these stories has any serious accusations. It's more about the optics about who this guy is.
Yesterday’s Show:
SILICON CURTAIN — with host JONATHAN FINK in OXFORD
Maksym Kononenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia - Ukraine Pushes for a Just, Sustainable and Equitable Peace to End Russia's War.
by JONATHAN FINK
Today I’m speaking with the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia, His Excellency Maksym Kononenko. The Ambassador is preparing for the upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15-16. And this interview is part of an effort to draw the attention of the global public to topics relating to creating a sustainable and secure peace in Ukraine, and about Ukraine's vision of ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
The upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland will focus on three main topics: nuclear security, food security, and the exchange of prisoners. These topics will serve as a departure point for discussions on President Zelensky's peace formula. (
Ukraine is mobilizing its resources and preparing for the next round of conflict, while also working towards a framework for peace. The country understands that peace can only be achieved after Russia is stopped and defeated.
Estonia has shown strong solidarity and leadership in supporting Ukraine, creating coalitions and providing long-term strategic support. Estonia has also passed a law on national compensation mechanism, allowing the use of frozen Russian assets to compensate Ukraine for damages caused by Russia. (Speaker 2)
Russia is actively trying to undermine the peace summit and spread disinformation about it. China, despite previous intentions to facilitate peace, has also been helping Russia in discrediting the summit. (Speaker 2)
UKRAINIAN FREEDOM VOICES
Alexander Kamyshin
MINISTER OF STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES OF UKRAINE
It was one of the most remembering meetings I had during this war. Was an honor to meet Minister @DefensieMin at the railway station at midnight on her way to Kyiv. Things are cooking, but will be announced soon.
Quick Hits: Paradigm Shifts
What’s the Biggest Problem in Journalism?
Beware the passive voice. It’s the biggest problem in journalism. If you pay attention, you’ll see that when journalists use a passive verb construction, they are, intentionally or through laziness, obscuring some truth. Passive voice obscures agency. “It has been alleged.” “Missiles were fired.” Who alleged?! Who fired?! That’s the key.
from Joe Lindsley’s monthly report on the Silicon Curtain podcast—a near daily interview series with Jonathan Fink in the UK
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