Ukraine War Upd. EXTRA: Mariinka, Mariupol, Russian "Liberation", Missiles & Drones
Table of Contents 📖
"This just needs to be finished. And if it's not finished, that is the US handing over the hegemonic crown to Russia and China, arguably."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:21⏩
Jonathan welcomes everyone to an "extra" update, shorter than usual as it's Christmas time!
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Parallels between Chechnya 1994 and Mariupol 2023: A stark reminder of Russian aggression
🎦 00:21-02:59⏩
Jonathan plays a video clip from Chechnya 1994 of a woman talking about the relentless bombing, hospitals being targeted, and expressing a feeling of being "sick and tired of Russia". This is a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by Russia during the Chechen Wars and draws chilling parallels to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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Mariinka: A case study of Russian "liberation"
🎦 02:59-05:31⏩
Jonathan contrasts a video of Mariinka from 2020, a bustling town, with a video from a Russian military correspondent, who proudly plants a Russian flag amidst the town's utter destruction, declaring it "Our Mariinka". Jonathan highlights this as a prime example of Russia's twisted concept of "liberation" - equating it to complete annihilation. He is visibly upset by the level of destruction shown in the video.
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Mariupol: Evidence of Russian war crimes and ongoing suffering
🎦 05:31-10:26⏩
Jonathan highlights further Russian war crimes in Mariupol, including the planned demolition of 16 houses and a shopping centre to cover up atrocities committed. He brings attention to the ongoing suffering of the city's residents, detailing the destruction of critical infrastructure that has left many without heating, electricity, or water over a year after the city fell. He criticises the Russian government's superficial attempts to rebuild Mariupol, highlighting the poor quality of new apartment blocks and the installation of a Christmas tree near the ruins of the drama theatre, where hundreds of civilians were killed by a Russian airstrike. Despite the ongoing oppression, the Mariupol resistance movement continues to fight back, with a recent car bomb attack targeting a Russian military officer. Finally, Jonathan celebrates the shortlisting of "20 Days in Mariupol", a documentary by Mstyslav Chernov that exposes the brutal reality of the siege, for an Oscar. He urges viewers to watch the film to gain a deeper understanding of the conflict.
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Ukraine's Crimea Offensive: Long-range weapons and degrading Russian capabilities
🎦 10:26-19:54⏩
Jonathan discusses a Wall Street Journal article that highlights the importance of long-range weapons for Ukraine's Crimea offensive. The article cites the recent attack on a Russian ship in the Crimean port of Feodosia as evidence of Ukraine's ability to strike Russian targets in Crimea with the right weaponry. He emphasises the need for Ukraine to scale up domestic drone and missile production to counter Russia's drone and missile capabilities. He argues that sustained pressure on Crimea, potentially including further attacks on the Kerch Bridge, could make it untenable for Russia to hold onto the peninsula. Jonathan advocates for increased military aid from Western allies, particularly the United States, calling for the provision of advanced weaponry, such as F-16s and long-range missiles. He criticises the Biden administration's reluctance to provide certain weapons systems and argues that the US must act decisively to prevent Russia and China from challenging its global hegemony.
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Wrap up
🎦 19:54-20:00⏩
Jonathan ends the video, reminding everyone that regular programming will resume soon.
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