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At this morning's dawn at Newbiggin I saw analogy with the magnitude of the disaster in Ukraine, their bravery in the face of tsunami....
Ukraine v. tsunami signed P1460603
One year ago, in the early hours of the morning, Ukraine saw the end of a peaceful existence, and threat to end their existence as a sovereign nation entirely. Lone border guards were among the first casualties, as the tanks rolled in and the missiles were launched in what Putin had wagered to be a three-day conquest. I am so glad that Russia had quietly become a kleptocracy, and their delusions of success could not be realized against the impassioned and skilled Ukrainian people.
As I sit here contemplating the past year, I am reminded of the kindness of friends, family, and strangers alike who helped our early efforts to support the influx if refugees here in Bulgaria. And I thank those who continue to support our efforts in sending aid to Ukraine. My thankfulness extended to many of the world’s governments, who are stepping up send tanks and long-range weapons to Ukraine. Without this help, Russia would have quickly expanded it’s borders and would not have stopped.
With the bravery of the Ukrainian people, and also the International Legion of foreign soldiers, and all the humanitarian aid workers within the country, Ukraine is on a path to recovery everything. The vast majority of the population say that there should be no territory lost, and I agree. The world is at war with Russia via Ukraine, and Russia will lose.
A few days ago, Putin made a long-winded speech. A few days before that, Russia failed in test-launching a RS-28 Sarmat ICBM. I believe Putin had intended to highlight a successful launch in his speech. Instead, his words echoed the frustration of failures in the military in Ukraine. Those failures continue, with the most modest territorial gains costing many thousands of lives and countless military assets.
As Russia runs short of military resources, Iran and now China are allegedly providing aid. I wouldn’t be surprised if North Korea is doing the same. Allegiances are being made across the world, and Russian natural resources are no longer required by Europe. Just today, the US, Australia and New Zealand announced new sanctions against Russia. The world continues to isolate the once-powerful tyrant who now must rely on the few strong allies it has – all of them non-democratic despotic nations.
I am confident that Ukraine will never give up this fight, and it will end with the destabilization of the Russian Federation. Poland is willing to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, and the first Leopard 2 tanks have arrived on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine will win, that much is a certainty. There’s still a lot of unknowns, however. How long and how many lives will it take? What happens when Russia loses? Remember that China and Russia share a very large border… in a destabilized Russia, would a country like China simply respect all previous international borders? The world is at the largest potential turning point in my generation.
And maybe the world needs a turning point for the better - with the climate crisis and geopolitics, a whole and sovereign Ukraine is the keystone of the next phase of international cooperation. It’s proof that much of the world can come together for a common goal. Beyond borders, continents, language and religion, the world can become aligned with democracy. That’s a scary thought for the despots of the world, and as it should be.
This image is taken with a snowdrop flower, turned upside down (as the flower usually droops downward – in this image it’s facing up). This isn’t a water droplet, but rather a gel-based “water pearl” that absorbs water and maintains a spherical shape. Like a mini crystal ball, it refracts what is behind it – and also stays spherical at much larger sizes than a water droplet. I made a print of the Ukrainian Coat of Arms to place in behind. I dedicate this image to the Public Domain – use it for any purpose you wish, no constraints or obligations.
Слава україні. The only way to peace is through victory. Victory will only be possible because of the heroes fighting for it. Героям слава! May this year of fighting and sacrifice be seen by the world as a beacon of hope.
The saying "Throw Kindness Around Like Confetti" came to my mind today and I wanted to make an image to show my love and support for the people of Ukraine. 💙💛
Bakhmut was a city in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its population exceeded 70,000 residents. Bakhmut was the center of Ukraine’s salt industry—rock salt had been extracted from its mines for centuries.
The city became one of the so-called Ukrainian ‘fortress cities’ that were not to be surrendered without a fight...
The battles for the city were long, extremely brutal, and bloody. Estimates of Russian military losses in the battles to capture the city range from 20,000 (according to Russian data) to 60,000 (according to Western observers). Ukrainian military losses remain classified to this day. I've found only information from the city’s mayor reporting 204 civilian deaths as of May 2023.
In December 2023, Russian forces finally took control of the city and its surroundings. But by then it was no longer a city—it was ruins, with 80% of its buildings completely destroyed. This is just one of many cities in Ukraine that, in reality, no longer exist as a result of a long, brutal, and senseless war.
Cities in Donbas have also suffered similar destruction: Mariupol, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Volnovakha, Marinka, Pavoposna, Sievierodonetsk, and Lysychansk. It can be said that they were effectively wiped off the map.
Currently, the Russian army is trying to take control of the last two major cities in the region: Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, and if the war does not stop, these cities will most likely face a similar tragic fate.
Severe destruction has also been experienced in the cities of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, Bucha, Irpin, and Borodianka.
As of 2024 (the most recent information I found), more than 300,000 buildings have been destroyed in Ukraine, and over 3 million Ukrainians have lost their homes.
The lyrics of the song I used as background for the video belong to the talented Ukrainian poet Maksym Kryvtsov, who went to defend Ukraine and was killed in this war on January 7, 2024. He was 34 years old. The song is performed by the Ukrainian singer known by the stage name Vivienne Mort.
The translation of the text is provided below:
“Don’t walk here
Don’t come here
You’ll be all alone here like this
God, winter has grown angry
Smoke is sliding down
Like a crawling snail
Don’t come here
Onto these paths
Sins are hidden in the forest
The sky is black
The wind is beating against a prison
Winter bleeds with cold
Don’t go here
Don’t enter
Here there are only ruins and God
On the road
Bodies are spread out
They are counted when dusk comes
I'd rather you forget about these places
The blood is bitter and poisonous like mercury
People turn
Into poppies
The wind tears through the heart like a hook
Names were disappearing
Cities were disappearing
Longing hung heavy, like solid bones
Birds were fighting
Fighting in the darkness
Against the raised black walls of a prison”