Ukraine Invasion: Part 45

[MagicFox]

Thanks to all: contributors, lurkers and those in-between

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

Some of those losses will be from the fighting east of Kherson, where Ukraine is on the offensive.

https://twitter.com/ChuckPfarrer/status/1715054417966215562

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-19-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Russian sources continued to discuss larger-than-usual Ukrainian ground operations on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast on October 19, and Ukrainian forces likely maintain a limited presence in some east bank areas near the Dnipro River shoreline and the Antonivsky railway bridge.
• Satellite imagery published on October 18 suggests that the Ukrainian ATACMS strike on the Luhansk City airfield likely damaged several helicopters on October 17.
• Ukrainian officials reported on October 19 that Ukrainian forces have downed five Russian fixed wing aircraft within the past 10 days in Donetsk Oblast amid high Russian ground vehicle losses near Avdiivka.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly advanced south of Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast amid continued counteroffensive operations on October 19.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, North Korea on October 19, likely part of an ongoing Russian effort to procure additional munitions from North Korea.
• A Russian milblogger observed that Ukrainian forces are successfully and asymmetrically attriting Russian reserves in ongoing offensive operations.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reportedly continues efforts to push remnants of the Wagner Group out of Syria.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, around Avdiivka, south of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced in some areas.
• A Russian federal subject is attempting to compensate for labor shortages in its defense sector by spearheading an initiative to allow some minors to work in hazardous conditions.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️Russian shelling in Sumy Oblast injures (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-shelling-in-sumy-oblast-injures-1/) 1.

⚡️Biden: 'We're not withdrawing' support (https://kyivindependent.com/biden-were-not-withdrawing-support-for-ukraine/) for Ukraine. In a national address from the White House on Oct. 19, United States President Joe Biden said he was going to send Congress an "urgent" funding request for aid to Ukraine and Israel on Oct. 20. Biden did not specify the dollar amount of the request, but said it represented an "unprecedented commitment to Israel's security" and would allow transfers of weapons to Ukraine to continue without interruption.

⚡️Scholz blasts (https://kyivindependent.com/scholz-blasts-putins-hypocrisy-calls-remarks-on-civilian-casualties-cynical/) Putin's hypocrisy, calls remarks on civilian casualties 'cynical'.

⚡️North Korea hopes to build (https://kyivindependent.com/north-korea-hopes-to-build-forward-looking-partnership-with-russia/) 'forward-looking' partnership with Russia.

⚡️EU officially extends (https://kyivindependent.com/eu-officially-extends-protections-for-ukrainian-refugees/) protections for Ukrainian refugees.

⚡️ General Staff: Russia renews attacks (https://kyivindependent.com/general-staff-russia-renews-attacks-at-avdiivka-suffers-almost-1-000-casualties/) at Avdiivka, suffers casualties.

⚡️ Turkish ambassador: Black Sea grain deal possible to restore. (https://kyivindependent.com/turkish-ambassador-black-sea-grain-deal-possible-to-restore/) Turkey is working with all relevant players to achieve that result

⚡️ Russian media: Putin visits Russian military (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-media-putin-visits-russian-military-headquarters-in-rostov-on-don/) headquarters in Rostov-on-Don. [Of course it is Putin himself. The Real McCoy]

⚡️ Russian attacks kill 1, injure 13 (https://kyivindependent.com/attacks-21/) over past day.

⚡️ Russian air strike on Beryslav (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-air-strike-on-beryslav-in-kherson-oblast-kills-woman/) in Kherson Oblast kills woman.

⚡️ Bloomberg: Germany still trades Russian LNG as canceling costs over $10 billion. (https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-germany-still-trades-russian-lng-as-cancelling-costs-over-10-billion/)

⚡️ Health minister: Heart attacks, strokes (https://kyivindependent.com/health-minister-young-ukrainians-increasingly-more-suffer-heart-attacks-strokes/) becoming more common at earlier age in Ukraine. The health minister linked this development to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing full-scale war with Russia, which had a negative effect on early detection and screening of serious diseases. [The immense stress that the Ukrainian population must be under]

⚡️UK Defense Ministry: ATACMS strike on Berdiansk airfield likely to reduce (https://kyivindependent.com/uk-defense-ministry-atacms-strike-on-berdiansk-airfield-likely-to-reduce-russias-capabilities-on-front-line/) Russia's military capabilities in the area.

⚡️Embassy: 79 more Ukrainians evacuated (https://kyivindependent.com/embassy-79-more-ukrainians-evacuated-from-israel/) from Israel. This is the fourth evacuation flight organized by the embassy since the fighting in Israel and Gaza broke out on Oct. 7, bringing the total number of rescued Ukrainians to over 500.

⚡️ Exiled mayor: Ukrainian resistance in occupied Melitopol detonates car with looters. (https://kyivindependent.com/exiled-mayor-ukrainian-resistance-in-occupied-melitopol-detonates-car-with-looters/)Ukrainian partisans in occupied Melitopol blew up a car with Russian occupiers, who regularly robbed empty apartments in the city, Melitopol's exiled Mayor Ivan Fedorov said on Oct. 20.

⚡️ Kazakhstan denies banning export (https://kyivindependent.com/kazakhstan-denies-banning-export-of-106-dual-use-goods-to-russia/) of 106 dual-use goods to Russia.

🎥Watch on Telegram This video was shared by the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine, claiming to show the destruction of Russian tanks and armored personnel vehicles that were moving toward Avdiivka on Oct. 20.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 30 – ATACMS, and Russia's offensive on Avdiivka
(

⚡️Ukrainian activist and journalist Maksym Butkevych, in Russian captivity receives (https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-activist-butkevych-receives-anne-frank-special-recognition-award/) Anne Frank Special Recognition Award.

⚡️Latvian president: Europe must increase arms production (https://kyivindependent.com/latvian-president-europe-must-increase-arms-production-for-self-defense-ukraine/) for its own needs, Ukraine. "Whether we like it or not, Europe must arm itself," Rinkevics said on the air of the TV3 channel, adding that mere slogans will not be enough and the EU members must be ready to accept real costs.

🎥on Telegram: Video: 92nd Assault Brigade, a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Watch on Telegram: Video: 92nd Assault Brigade, a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, depicts a Ukrainian drone operator venturing perilously close to Russian positions, enduring constant shelling.

The caption reads, “Sometimes I hear that UAV operators work from safe places. But to achieve high-impact results, it’s necessary to penetrate deep into enemy positions - for this, you need to work as close as possible to the front line,” written by Commander Yurii Fedorenko of the "Achilles" platoon of the 92nd Assault Brigade.

⚡Media: Romania to install (https://kyivindependent.com/media-romania-to-install-anti-drone-defense-system/) anti-drone defense system.

They've announced the details of the package. I expect the bill is being drafted in the Senate today.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/20/politics/biden-administration-israel-ukraine-congress-funding/index.html

In an interview with RT (Russia Today), an Israeli politician threatened Russia with retaliation for their support of Hamas and Iran. Pretty gutsy. It must have aired live if the clip is on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1715080585998160115

Really hope it gets through, even if it means Ukraine now has to ride to a certain extent on Israel's coattails. Whatever it takes to get Ukraine set up for a decent time. Thank you, Biden, for not losing sight of things.

This is also what I'm worried about. But I can't believe the US would lose sight of the wider global threat posed by the consequences of the Ukraine invasion

I have posted on another thread burnIng think a ground offensive in Gaza is becoming less less likely as the hostage releases have shown that Hamas are prepared to release hostages and more could be released presumably if the ground incursion is stalled. Israel and the West are obviously invested in the lives and stories of the hostages so I think the potential release of more hostages is acting as a brake on more action.The incursion obviously is being delayed and I really do not know how feasible it is to delay it longer but I get the impression there is build up of diplomatic pressure to stop the incursion not only for hostage negotiations but to limit the already quite significant suffering of the Palestinian people. There is also the question about what in reality a ground incursion can acheive.

I do think this leaves Israel and the West (UK and US) with a dilemma as backing down at this stage would look potentially weak and they would have to back track from a lot of rhetoric.

We may have a situation where Israel effectively increases security on the border but then decouples from Gaza entirely leaving the Rafah crossing as the only entrance into Gaza and stopping any flow of material from Israel. Possibly this could cause a slow death for Hamas as the people realise their lot is going to be particularly hard if they continue any support of their leaders and internal political pressure may lead to the eventual installation of a more moderate Gaza government. It may take years though and Gaza will be away from the headlines.

I don't know if the hostage releases should have been or were predicted but I really do think this may be a turning point in this conflict and I really do feel there is now a loss.of momentum from Israel militarily which may allow.politics to fill the void in the coming week.

Of course I may be wrong and they go in over the weekend.

but I

@mids2019

Interesting thoughts - without dragging this off topic for too long one issue widely ignored by the media is the local tradition of chucking unguided rockets over the fence from Gaza into populated parts of Israel (LOAC anyone?).

Get whoever sanctions that action to stop it and you might just start getting Israel to consider limiting their actions to simply sealing their border with Gaza, though TBH given Israeli losses on Oct 7th I'm not confident.

The firing at populated areas was going on on a routine/regular basis well before Oct 7th and it was quite sobering when going there to see that on the back of the average hotel room door in addition to "actions in the event of a fire" you often had "actions in the event of a air raid alert" and directions to your nearest shelter....(usually the hotels underground car park).

Sorry for derailing the thread but I think the hostage releases may be of import because of there are reasons for a ground incursion not to take place then this releases US military support to Ukraine (politically and militarily). A lack of ground incursion would also allow the US to decouple from a bloody war in which civilian hardship is obviously going to make headlines (hospital situations, lack of utilities, civilians in crossfire etc.). Obviously hostage release in and of itself is a very good thing.

Putin does not now have the avenue of using Gaza as propaganda portraying the US as the global bad guy which he obviously would like. (Note the bizarre humanitarian concern from Russia towards Gaza).

I think the ground incursion may be off now. I am probably absolutely wrong on this however......pure speculation!

I dont agree that the ground incursion is necessarily off unfortunately, though there is clearly a diplomatic scramble to find some sort of temporary solution.

I also don’t believe for one second that the US and the West are unable to look at 2 conflicts at the same time, even if the media seem unable to.

Back. My God Iceland is truly amazing, if you like rugged and dramatic. Cannot recommend it highly enough though do take a full purse with you!

Thank you so much @DesdamonasHandkerchief and @blueshoes for keeping the updates going! Much appreciated.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-20-2023

Key Takeaways:

• Russian forces launched a renewed offensive push near Avdiivka on October 20 and marginally advanced, indicating that the Russian military command remains committed to offensive operations in the area despite heavy materiel and personnel losses.
• Ukrainian forces continued larger-than-usual ground operations on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast on October 20 and established a confirmed presence in a settlement on the east bank.
• Russian and Ukrainian sources continue to indicate that the Russian units defending the east bank of Kherson Oblast are relatively less combat effective than other Russian forces elsewhere on the front.
• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast but did not make confirmed advances.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Southern Military District (SMD) headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, on October 19 to discuss the battlefield situation in Ukraine with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, around Avdiivka, west of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and made limited advances in some areas.
• Russian Investigative Committee Head Alexander Bastrykin argued on October 20 that Russian authorities should strip migrants of acquired Russian citizenship if they are unwilling to fight in Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent Telegram

⚡️UK Defense Ministry: ATACMS strike on Berdiansk airfield likely to reduce https://kyivindependent.com/uk-defense-ministry-atacms-strike-on-berdiansk-airfield-likely-to-reduce-russias-capabilities-on-front-line/ Russia's military capabilities in the area.
"Given that Russian fixed-wing close air support to date has been extremely poor, Russian defensive lines have become increasingly reliant on rotary-wing support in the face of the Ukrainian offensive," the ministry explained.

⚡️White House requests https://kyivindependent.com/white-house-requests-61-billion-for-ukraine/ $61 billion for Ukraine, including $44.4 billion in defense aid, Politico reported on Oct. 20.
The Ukraine funding is part of a nearly $106 billion request to provide Israel with emergency support, reinforce the U.S. border with Mexico, and for other humanitarian needs, the media outlet wrote.
However, without a speaker in sight, the passing of a landmark aid package remains in peril while both Ukraine and Israel desperately await the decision.

⚡️Ukrainian government discovers https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-government-discovers-theft-of-foreign-aid/ theft of foreign aid.
An investigation conducted by Ukraine's State Customs Service and together with the Ministry of Defense found that one-third of humanitarian aid donated to the Ukrainian military over the last year did not reach military units. Earlier this year, the State Customs Service of Ukraine registered 653 cases of disappeared humanitarian cargo for military purposes. Some of the missing materials included plates for body armor, night vision devices, thermal imagers, drones, and military vehicles. [Oh my God. For the first time, it looks like the skeptics may have a real basis for their pov, though their motivation is highly suspect. But this really needs to be changed, and changed now. Questions:

1. Is this govt aid from other countries?
2. is it privately donated aid?
3. where has it gone?
4. can it be recovered?
5. who did it and can they be prosecuted? This has to be a priority very close to the top of Ukraine's list]

⚡️ Media: US warns 100 countries of Russian election interference threat. https://kyivindependent.com/media-us-warns-over-100-countries-of-russian-election-interference-threat/
While Moscow's past strategy focused on backing specific candidates, their new methods seek to sow distrust toward the electoral process, portraying elections as dysfunctional and their results illegitimate, the document said.

⚡️ Bloomberg: EU to start work on 12th Russia sanctions package.
https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-eu-to-start-work-on-12th-russia-sanctions-package/

⚡️Media: Poland's ruling party hired Orban's advisers https://kyivindependent.com/media-polands-ruling-party-hired-orbans-advisers-for-election-campaign/ for election campaign.
Poland's Law and Justice party, which was the ruling party up to the Oct. 15 elections, had hired Viktor Orban's advisors to help run their election campaign, Polish media outlet Polityka reported on Oct. 20.

Germany is allocating an additional 200 million euros ($210 million) for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the German Press Agency (DPA) reported on Oct. 21, citing Germany's State Secretary for Development Jochen Flasbarth. https://kyivindependent.com/germany-pledges-further-210-million-for-ukraine-reconstruction/

Germany has transferred another three self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft guns, over 3,000 rounds of smoke ammunition, and other military equipment to Ukraine as part of its latest aid package, the German government reported on Oct. 20. https://kyivindependent.com/germany-delivers-3-more-gepard-guns-to-ukraine/

Bloomberg: Germany still trades Russian LNG as canceling costs over $10 billion.
A German state-owned company continues to ship Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) to India, as canceling the contract could cost over $10 billion in taxpayer money, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 20, citing undisclosed sources. https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-germany-still-trades-russian-lng-as-cancelling-costs-over-10-billion/
SEFE, a former unit of the Russian Gazprom nationalized by the German government last year, reportedly continues to fulfill its legacy 20-year contract from 2018 to ship out Russian LNG from the Yamal facility.

⚡️Mediazona confirms https://kyivindependent.com/mediazona-confirms-identities-of-over-34-000-russian-soldiers-killed-in-ukraine/ identities of over 34,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

⚡️ Kazakhstan denies banning export https://kyivindependent.com/media-romania-to-install-anti-drone-defense-system/ of 106 dual-use goods to Russia.

⚡️Ukraine aims https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-aims-to-be-first-to-set-global-standard-of-investigating-ecocide-as-war-crime/ to set global standard of investigating ecocide as war crime.

PM Shmyhal: Russia's damage to Ukrainian environment amounts https://kyivindependent.com/pm-shmyhal-russian-damages-to-ukrainian-environment-amount/ to nearly $60 billion.
The damage from the destruction of the Kahkovka dam amounts to 3.8 billion euros ($4 billion) and is "the largest act of ecocide in the last 70 years," Shmyhal said.

⚡️Media: Romania to install (https://kyivindependent.com/media-romania-to-install-anti-drone-defense-system/) anti-drone defense system along the border with Ukraine.

⚡️ Exiled mayor: Ukrainian resistance in occupied Melitopol detonates car with looters. https://kyivindependent.com/exiled-mayor-ukrainian-resistance-in-occupied-melitopol-detonates-car-with-looters/

⚡️Latvian president: Europe must increase arms production https://kyivindependent.com/latvian-president-europe-must-increase-arms-production-for-self-defense-ukraine/ for its own needs, Ukraine.
"Whether we like it or not, Europe must arm itself," Rinkevics said on the air of the TV3 channel.

⚡️UN Commission releases (https://kyivindependent.com/un-commission-releases-report-on-rape-and-torture-in-occupied-territories/ report on rape and torture in occupied territories.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine released a report on on Oct. 20 investigating on rape and torture in occupied Ukrainian territories.

⚡️ Health minister: Heart attacks, strokes https://kyivindependent.com/health-minister-young-ukrainians-increasingly-more-suffer-heart-attacks-strokes/ becoming more common at earlier age in Ukraine. The minister linked this development to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing full-scale war with Russia, which had a negative effect on early detection and screening of serious diseases.

⚡️Embassy: 79 more Ukrainians evacuated https://kyivindependent.com/embassy-79-more-ukrainians-evacuated-from-israel/ from Israel.

⚡️Ukrainian activist in Russian captivity receives https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-activist-butkevych-receives-anne-frank-special-recognition-award/ Anne Frank Special Recognition Award.

Ragnar Gudmundsson

■ Strikes & engagements below 7-day average
■ Troop losses drop but well above long-term average
■ Triple-digit equipment losses, APVs at record level See dashboard for further analysis

Robbert Tulp
Losses of Russian Attack Helicopters! I compared data to estimate the % attack helicopters Russia has visually confirmed lost in #Ukraine. Data from@oryxspioenkop
& the Military Balance 2022, retrieved on October 19th.

⚡️Ukrainian government discovers https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-government-discovers-theft-of-foreign-aidd**/ theft of foreign aid.*
An investigation conducted by Ukraine's State Customs Service and together with the Ministry of Defense found that one-third of humanitarian aid donated to the Ukrainian military over the last year did not reach military units. Earlier this year, the State Customs Service of Ukraine registered 653 cases of disappeared humanitarian cargo for military purposes. Some of the missing materials included plates for body armor, night vision devices, thermal imagers, drones, and military vehicles.

This is very bad news and will be seized upon by those oppose to providing aid to Ukraine, just awful news. And makes me so angry that self interested individuals can betray their countrymen for financial gain at a time like this.

UNITED24 Media Telegram

🇺🇸 The US will reduce the amount of monthly budget aid to Ukraine from $1.1 billion to $825 million. [no explanation of why]

The third peace summit regarding Ukraine with the so-called Global South will be held in Malta, — Bloomberg.
The meeting will take place on October 28 and 29.

NATO has heightened its patrols in the Baltic Sea following damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline. These enhanced measures encompass additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights, including the use of maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS aircraft, and drones. Additionally, a fleet of four NATO minesweepers is en route to the region.

According to Lieutenant General Serhiy Naev, the commander of the United Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia has deployed a contingent of approximately 19,000 personnel along the border with Ukraine. In an interview with Ukrinform, Naev detailed that these units in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions are equipped with tanks, anti-aircraft missiles, artillery and rocket systems, air defense systems, and anti-aircraft defense systems.

🚁 Croatia handed over Mi-8 helicopters to Kyiv as part of military aid to Ukraine, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a meeting with his Croatian counterpart Mario Banožić

The EU has extended the temporary protection regime for refugees from Ukraine for one year — from March 4, 2024 to March 4, 2025, the press service of the Council of the EU reported on the social network X (former Twitter)

Latvian President Edgards Rinkevičs has suggested closing the Baltic Sea to Russia, according to LSM. He proposes this action as a potential response if it is confirmed that the Russian Federation was involved in the incidents affecting the Balticconnector gas pipeline and the Finnish-Estonian communication cable.

A Russian military transport plane crashed in Tajikistan. The incident involved an Il-76 aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces at the Gissar airbase. Fortunately, the plane's crew was unharmed. The crash occurred after a fire broke out in one of the engines, leading to the aircraft rolling off the runway and being completely consumed by fire. The crew escaped without injuries.

The Hamas terrorist organization's official website is hosted on a Russian server, as reported by Gulagu.net, citing the Israeli publication 'Mezuzah.' The website is hosted on the VDSina server, a Russian hosting service, with its office located in Moscow. The domain for the Hamas website is supported by the Russian company Selectel. According to information from the Who.is service, as noted by Port, the server itself appears to have been placed on VDSina.

That's wonderful news! Over a thousand pink flamingos have made their way to the national park "Tuzlovsky lymany" in the Odesa region. Scientists estimate that these birds came in the flock of 1114 birds, marking the largest number of flamingos ever recorded in the park's history of observations.

Live: Ukraine Telegram

India rejects demand of Russian oil suppliers who want payment for oil in yuan - Bloomberg.
This has already caused the recent delay of seven shipments from Russia. [India's purchase of Russian oil has had quite a few problems over arranging payment, this is the latest]

⚡️Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has attracted almost $34 billion in external financing from its allies. The European Union provided the largest support - $14.6 billion.
Another $12 billion was received from the sale of military bonds.

Zelensky had a phone conversation with Scholz and spoke about the failed Russian offensive near Avdiivka and the catastrophic losses of the Russian occupiers.
The President also thanked for the latest large military aid package, which includes Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems.

🇩🇪🇺🇦 Germany has handed over another batch of military aid to Ukraine.
The package includes 3 Gepard anti-aircraft guns, 20 RQ-35 Heidrun unmanned reconnaissance systems, 20 Vector light reconnaissance UAVs, a Biber bridge paver, 3 HX81 tractors and 3 semi-trailers, 13 border guard vehicles and 3,872 DM125 artillery smoke shells.

🇺🇸 Joe Biden has requested $61.4 billion in support for Ukraine from Congress.
▫️ $30 billion for Pentagon arms programs for Ukraine and replenishment of its own stockpiles;
▫️ $14.4 billion for military, intelligence, and other security support;
▫️ $16.3 billion for the State Department's economic, security, and operational support programs;
▫️ $481 million - for programs to support Ukrainians coming to the United States under the U4U program;
▫️ $149 million for nuclear and radiological threat response and capacity building.

5000+ russian tanks were destroyed during the full-scale invasion.

Ukraine has returned four more children from occupation and deportation - a 17-year-old girl and three boys aged 6, 3, and 9.

❗️A Russian IL-76 military aircraft caught fire at the airfield in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, during takeoff. The crew survived.

Welcome back @DancesWithDucks - hope you had a lovely break and came back refreshed.

Big thank you to everyone who carried on posting updates on this thread while Ducks was away, this is much appreciated.

Mr MB76 and I have just been to Inverness for our 25th wedding anniversary to get away from it all. We were moved by this 💙💛🌉

I’m just catching up with all the updates for the past week. The situation in Gaza / Israel terrifies me. In my mind when it spins out of control, I am so scared that this is what Ukraine and Russia may end up like, decades and decades of unresolved conflict and escalating violence.

i also think this situation is very much in Putin’s favour even if he had nothing to do with it

@Mb76 the bridge in Inverness lit up in the colours of the Ukraine flag is truly touching. Particularly in the past weeks which have been dominated by news from Gaza. Never forget it is an ongoing war and illegal occupation of Ukraine.

Inspired by other posters on this thread, I have purchased a Ukraine flag pin for my work bag and a mug in Ukraine colours to use on zoom calls.

A frozen conflict is indeed terrifying.

It’s the little gestures that mean a lot. Also, I have noticed that they often get commented on (positively) by others and can be a good conversation starter.

In case anyone is looking to buy Ukraine merch, I got this link from BezMills' videos. Not sure the proceeds fully go to Ukraine so if you are looking to support financially, best to donate directly to the usual channels like United 24.

https://goldenheart.store/en-gb

I am also donating in honour of VeloRome who got zapped last night.

@Mb76 I hope you had a lovely time!

The holiday was truly wonderful, thank you. I'd go back in a heartbeat.