War continues

European Union nation members are considering a new sanction (definition #5) to punish Russia for its war on Ukraine.

Twenty-two European nations have abolished controls (like passports) over their mutual borders, so citizens move freely across those borders. It's called the Schengen Area. These partner countries and the European Union are considering a ban on Russian tourists.

It's not a clearcut issue. The German chancellor wants to keep escape routes open across borders for Russian citizens who want to flee Putin's rule.  Other leaders want the ban to go into effect.

The Finnish prime minister speaks for Europeans who can't close their eyes to the crisis. She says, “I think it’s not right that Russian citizens can travel, enter Europe, enter the Schengen area, be tourists, see the sights while Russia is killing people in Ukraine. It’s wrong."

Meanwhile, eastern Ukraine endures more Russian shelling. Even so, many hesitate to escape by way of a free train ride. It's hard to leave the homeland.

from CNN

Ukraine access

President Zelensky asked the West to help Ukraine defend and protect itself after the Russian invasion last February. Help has flowed to this country from governments and individuals.

He specifically asked Elon Musk to help by enabling internet access despite all Russia's destruction and damage to the country. 

In response, Elon provided Starlink satellites.

Losses

Here's a different take on Putin's despicable war against Ukraine: Russia's losses go beyond those caused by global sanctions (both financial loss and public revulsion). The loss of young lives will be felt.

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According to President Zelensky, 31,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine. Even before the war, their population was declining by 100,000/year. They've been in that "demographic winter" for years. 

Twenty-thousand Russian villages have been abandoned Another 36,000 have fewer than ten  inhabitants. They will be next. 

"If the Russians turn out to have no stomach for this fight, it will probably be for the simple fact that the country does not have enough men to spare. The majority of those poor young men killed for Russia’s honour will be their mother’s only son, in many cases their only child . . ."

from Breakpoint

(cont'd tomorrow)

Rescue kids

Danger, tragedy, death are all happening in Ukraine.  But there's purpose-driven heroism as well.

Vlad Finn lived on the streets for two years as a small boy. A Ukrainian orphanage later became his home, then an American couple adopted him and his brother. At the age of fifteen, Vlad had new parents, family and country. Today his heart is touched for orphans who are still there.

Tyler Merritt is a U.S. veteran with tactical warrior experience, a special skill set. Together with a few other veterans in the Aerial Recovery Group, he's on the ground with refugees at the Ukraine-Poland border. 

ARG's mission: to save lives, eliminate confusion, maximize support and accelerate recovery.

Last week they took a window of  72 hours to walk across the border and rescue orphans. The veterans have the skills to get the job done, and Finn is there as a volunteer. Merritt says that they were moving a 30-passenger van of kids when Russians stopped them, pulled out two caregivers, and executed them. 

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from The Stream

Fuel dilemma 1

Here's the dilemma. Germany put economic sanctions on Russia to punish them for brutally invading the sovereign country of Ukraine. But at the same time they heavily depend on imports of Russian natural gas and petroleum for which they pay a huge sum. So, while punishing Putin for the war, they are at the same time giving him the income he needs to continue it.

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It's difficult because stopping the huge payments to Russia (which they strongly feel they should do) would also - without question - leave the German people painfully short of fuel.

So the debate in Germany right now can be summed up like this: "Europe's largest economy is trying to figure out just how badly it would fare without Russian gas." They could stop paying Putin altogether, but how much economic suffering are they willing to endure for it? 

Dependence on Russia for its energy needs has been an awkward fact for years. Now it's acute.

from Foreign Policy

(cont'd tomorrow)

War zone 1

Life is different when your home turns into a war zone. While about 3.9 million people have fled the danger, that's less than 10% of Ukraine's population. Most still live there, coping with tough circumstances. You've seen media photos of apartment buildings and shopping centers flattened and  destroyed by Russian bombs. Where do those people live now, and where do they shop? Somewhere else.

Almost five thousand miles of highway is damaged or destroyed. That means truck lines which carry food products and other merchandise are disrupted. That means that businesses and stores can't always supply what their customers need, with more jobs and incomes lost.

Since they're a major exporter of agricultural products (called the "breadbasket" of Europe), Ukraine's war zone effect will be felt way beyond their border. 

About  70% of their imported petrol and diesel is from Russia or its ally, Belarus. That's a problem since only one in five of their large agri-businesses now has enough fuel to do this spring's planting. One more big factor: there's a large number of men missing from the work force because they're fighting a war.

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Staying behind

Yes, millions of Ukrainian citizens are fleeing from the war. But beyond the massive numbers escaping, there are some choosing to stay right in the path of Russian destruction.

Unidentifiable from the sky, ordinary unmarked vans driven by brave men and women bring supplies to desperate people who have not fled the country, who have survived so far but whose resources are devastated.

A large underground non-governmental network of Christian groups with "long-established family connections" is based on loyalty and trust, and is not very visible to the invading aggressor.

A woman and three others volunteers who stayed in the war zone and paid the ultimate price - here.

This author praises the manliness (non-toxic) of men taking emotional farewells of their families, then resolutely heading back to the fight.

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from Spectator

Ukraine prayer

Many of you are praying for Ukraine. I join you, and I'm also praying for my nephew who is now in a bomb shelter, looking for a way to get out of the country.

Here is a hand-written diagram of prayer for Ukraine that was created by a Ukrainian believer just a few days ago. Its inspiration is from Psalm 3:3 (the Lord is a shield for me) and Psalm 34:18 (the Lord is close to the brokenhearted).

Listen to this New York choir singing a hymn for the safety of Ukraine:

Lyrics of the first verse (more lyrics here):

Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,
Protect our beloved Ukraine,
Bless her with freedom and light
Of your holy rays. 

Energy card

"[I]t would surprise no one if Russia played the energy card to control events."  Right, and they did so on Saturday.

Russia brought troops and weapons across the Ukraine/Crimea border to take a village and a natural gas distribution station.

Is the sovereign, independent nation of Ukraine going to be progressively invaded and subdued by Russia?  Pray that they are able to repel invaders and keep their independence.

Ukraine's gaslines

Russia's big bargaining chip in this conflict is natural gas.  NY Times reports that they have used their gas and oil resources for coercion before.

Russia supplies most of the natural gas that Europe uses, and a lot of it travels by pipeline through Ukraine.  So not only does Ukraine depend on Russian natural gas, but Europe depends on the Ukraine route.  Russia has a good hand if they like to play a tough game (and they do).

You may remember that America has been producing natural gas at a tremendous rate and has huge resources.  There is a movement to urge the U.S. government to approve exporting it - to Ukraine as our first customer, and without delay - because it would surprise no one if Russia played the energy card to control events.

In addition to potential help for Ukraine, see Time U.S. for another way American natural gas is playing  a part in foreign policy.

Ukraine's situation

When the new government was set up in Kiev and the fighting stopped, that was not the end of this story.  As you know, Russia did not like the outcome and sent troops across Ukrainian borders.

Greg Satell, contributor at Forbes, makes these corrections to Western media reports about the  Ukraine story:

1. The new government is not inept, but experienced - not undemocratic, but rather chosen by their own parliament. 

2.  The country is not radically divided against itself.

3.  Ukraine's forces are very competent and not helpless victims.

4.  Russia does not totally have the upper hand.

Ukrainian lad

"A lad from Lviv" seems to have created a turning point in history.  

As you know (yesterday's post), protests against the government resulted in the president fleeing the country.  I didn't know til today that a 26-year-old young man, Volodymyr Parasiuk, probably was responsible for that.

photo:  univest, inc

Tense negotiations between protesters (the opposition) and the government had resulted in an agreement last week that kept Pres. Yanukovych in power, based on his promise that he would allow elections later this year.  

Then last Friday night, Parasiuk jumped up in front of the crowded city square and "made an electrifying impromptu speech denouncing the opposition for "shaking hands with this killer."  82 people had died on the streets during the protests, mostly killed by Yanukovych's  forces.

Yanukovych  "flew out of Kiev by helicopter that night."

Ukrainian restraint

Ukraine's protests (see post of February 7) have turned into full-fledged revolt against their government and President Yanukovych, who just days ago ran from the capitol.

 People poured into his compound this weekend and found luxury that astonished them.

Instead of escalating protest into civil war, there has been restraint.  Parliament moved quickly to set up a new government which is supported by the police and the military.

And, in the midst of the chaos, there has been no looting.

Ukrainians, I salute you and I wish you well.

Remarkable monks

Armed special police in Kiev, Ukraine, stand behind a shield wall facing angry demonstrators in this January photo.  Civil protests began last November in favor of moving their economy/culture closer to Europe and further from Russia.

Some worry that a civil war could erupt in the streets with all the resulting loss of life and property.  So these Russian Orthodox monks are willing to risk much to subdue the raging emotions.  They place themselves in the middle of the faceoff,  taking shifts to pray on the street.  Go here for comments that one of them made on his facebook page.

In the words of Fr. Alipy, "You can’t even imagine how important it is for the clergy to stand there!"  There's a youtube video of the monks praying in the street while police rattle their shields.