Colaterial damage in the Ukrainian war

This week we return to why pausing this blog usually fails - rapid grown up post inspirations that don't fit the other blog - rather than what I'd much prefer to writing about.

It was reported late Tuesday that two people were killed when a couple of missiles landed at a farm in Poland.

This was about 3 miles from the border with Ukraine that itself had received over 80 missiles falling on its towns and cities destroying or damaging buildings including homes fired by Russia.

Much of the initial discussion around this incident in Poland centred more around whose rocket it was, something hard to reach a clear conclusion on given both Ukraine and Russia do have some identical missiles and that missiles can go way off target.

This conflict added more to the emotional feel as we marked Remembrance on Sunday.

Current thinking suggests it may be more likely to be Ukrainian fired from an anti missile unit but in a way it really doesn't matter that much as the issue is more one of was it deliberate or not as that if it had been Russian fired would of been a major issue for NATO.

It is a reminder that this conflict started by Russia can easily spill over to other countries in the same way Moldova has reported power losses following attacks on Ukraine's electricity systems probably because of being interconnected.

Ukraine had every right to stop rockets landing where they cause harm but Russia alone is responsible for the attacks and how they are impacting other countries.

The rocket attacks need to stop as are causing harm to all.

The War: an update

Having ignored much of what gone on from late February getting on to near enough sixty odd days of what was seen as likely to been a fairly short conflict it is (if indeed militarily speaking there was one to start with) a case of aims not met.

The attempt to take Kyiv (Kiev) from three sides failed with tanks breaking down, soldiers reduced to looting for food and communications equipment not being able to be used effectively.

All that was achieved was the 90% destruction of good number of towns and cities rather than taking over the territory, and no attempted imposition of a Pro-Russian new President.

Widespread murder in cold blood of non combatants, forced movement to Russia, rape including of children and the use of chemical weapons all added to Pariah State status for Russia as the West united with massive sanctions and some support with weapons for the Ukrainian armed services.

This country, Our country did a lot to mobilize support for Ukraine in pushing for the biggest sanctions in peacetime, raising humanitarian aid badly needed and supplying without hesitation military resources including some training to fight this Russian invasion.

That's something many of us agree with as much as we detest war, vile playground bullies need to be stood up to and Putin's Russia is just that.

Currently Russian is pushing for "quick wins" in the eastern Donbass region chunks of which were in hands of pro-Rrussian separatists since 2014.

 

Things are not looking good for Europes security given recent threats to destroy places western diplomats are based, threaten nuclear strikes on London and New York and attack military bases in the West.

Liz Truss, our Foreign Secretary, has made it plain yesterday we will not just continue to stand with Ukraine but we will redouble support in terms of equipment in the event of any of these threats coupled with the attempt to invade Moldova too is to happen.

I make no apology for backing her all the way because such crass ideas that if acted upon would reap the most awful human consequences for all of us must be deterred and sometimes you have to face them down.

Russia must lose and be seen to lose to ensure the idea of terrorizing a people by war and unspeakable crimes by its soldiers does not go unpunished and territorial aggression is not allowed to prevail.