Ukraine's Secret Weapon: Strong Society
War Day 369: From Kharkiv, "We can't have a sad face to win.”
“Keep talking to Joseph daily. I treasure his daily talks. He is the only way to truly know the truth.”
— a listener to the daily Ukraine report on Chicago’s WGN Radio with Bob Sirott and Joe Lindsley
All the warnings indicated Russia would do something horrible and big close to the February 24 one-year anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But while intense battles rage in Bakhmut and other front-line places much of Ukraine is outwardly calm, as people keep rebuilding, preparing, training. Yes, infrastructure is heavily damaged after months of missile attacks, with many power facilities totally destroyed, and the cost of the battle of Bakhmut is exceedingly high, with more and more reports of deaths and injuries.
But Ukraine holds. A priest in Kharkiv summed up well a common sentiment: One year ago, Ukrainians were fiercely, ferociously confident. Now they are calmly confident.
Even still, Russia is adding to its ship presence in the Black Sea, Ukraine is trying to get better and more lethal weapons from the West, hoping that support will arrive in time not simply to hold the line but to push the Russians back to their borders. Despite President Joe Biden’s visit to Ukraine last week, a leading congressional Republican supporter of Ukraine says the White House is moving too slow to support Ukraine with needed weapons.
Here’s my daily report from Ukraine on Chicago’s WGN Radio:
Stories from Kharkiv: Over the weekend, Ukrainian soldiers gave medals to nearly 80 leading civilian volunteers in a secret summit honouring the work of the people in keeping Ukraine free.
These groups, each with a team name like something from a pub quiz night, have been delivering food to soldiers, evacuating the wounded, caring for orphans--doing everything that needs to be done. This is the strength of Ukraine, everyone using their capacities, interests, talents, largely as they choose, to achieve victory ... P
lus, over a whiskey, I spoke about those who have died in the intense fighting with a Ukrainian soldier friend.
“Our friends in the heaven are looking down smiling upon us,” he said. “And so we must smile . We can't have a sad face to win.” As we raised a glass to those who have died.
Listen above.
DAILY SITUATION SUMMARY: Drone attack on Kyiv region, a lethal weapon from China
BY PAVLO VITENKO
Situation summary of war in Ukraine by region for Monday, February 27, 2023
HEADLIINES:
—Russia is accumulating aviation next to Ukraine: the Main Directorate of Intelligence said what the enemy is planning
—"There will be Muscovites, Uralians": Putin acknowledged the threat of Russia's disintegration
—The occupiers no longer feel safe in Mariupol — British intelligence has given the reasons
… but first, the Summary by regions:
LUHANSK REGION
On February 26, in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the Russians conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas of Novoselivske, Ploshanka, Bilohorivka, Nevske, and Serebryansk forestry.
Enemy artillery shelling was recorded in Novoselivske, Nevske, Chervonopopivka, Kreminna, Dibrova, Serebryansk Forestry, and Bilohorivka.
The enemy carried out airstrikes in the area of Bilohorivka.
The situation in the region remains tense.
DONETSK REGION
At night, there were two missile strikes on Myrnohrad. At least 4 private households were destroyed. Information about the victims is being clarified.
In the morning, there was a massive shelling of the city of Avdiivka, shelling from the "Hrad" anti-aircraft missile system. The consequences are clarified.
No significant changes along the front line. Vuhledar, Mariinka, Avdiivka, Bakhmut — under constant enemy fire.
During the day, there were five shellings of settlements in the Kurakhove community: the village of Hostre, the village of Kurakhivka and the town of Hirnyk. A woman was wounded in Hirnyk. There is damage to residential buildings in the settlements of the community. In the village of Hostre, there was a direct hit to a store and the buildings and facilities of a medical facility were damaged. …
Read the full report here.
“I always loved Jordan Peterson,” my friend Sasha, a Ukrainian knifemaker in Lviv, told me recently. “But we don’t need him now. He’s left us. He doesn’t understand us.”
Read “Missile Strikes vs Ice Baths: Why Do Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson Ignore Reality of Ukraine?” from Poland’s TVP World.
Six unpopular truths about Ukraine
1. Russia’s war on Ukraine is happening for one reason: Ukrainians insist on freedom.
2. The talk of war crimes misses the point. The entire war is a war crime.
3. Ukraine’s democratic corruption is not as awful as in numerous other countries.
4. Most Ukrainians are unvaccinated against coronavirus.
5. Hunter Biden made money from Russia, and not from Ukraine.
6. The US has actually given less support to Ukraine than it seems.
“[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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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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