Ukraine War Upd. EXTRA: Target Practice, NDAA Details, & War Is Hell
Table of Contents 📖
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"But the war is with us all. And you can't go shopping without seeing somebody missing a limb. And it is not uncommon here. Nobody looks twice anymore. You just know that those people sacrificed for their country."
Hello Team!
Jonathan introduces this as an extra Ukraine war update video to provide additional insights and details on the war in Ukraine.
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NDAA and Ukraine Aid
- Randy Mott, a Republican activist, provides an optimistic outlook on the impasse in Congress regarding Ukraine aid
- The U.S. lend-lease provisions for Ukraine are in the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) which is currently in conference committee and expected to pass soon
- While the large aid package will pass in the Senate, the House bill may delay more aid authorization until January due to the Christmas recess
- In the interim, the US could provide military equipment like Bradleys, F-16s and M1A1 tanks to Ukraine under lend-lease with no budget impact once NDAA is approved
- Aid will not stop and the nature of the military hardware provided will become more combat effective
- The delay is frustrating but aid critics should note the oversight controls and that Europe now provides more aid than the US
Frontline Realities and Geopolitical Perspectives
- Dimko Zlutenko, founder of a Ukrainian military charity fund, shares his experiences and discussions with soldiers on the frontlines
- Ukrainian soldiers closely follow world news and how it impacts them, like the border blockades holding up volunteer military aid
- They are frustrated by political games delaying aid while Ukraine faces daily attacks and harsh conditions
- Ukraine needs support as no country can defeat Russia alone except possibly the US
- If the world doesn't supply Ukraine with ammunition, they could fall within weeks as Russia has ramped up drone and missile production
- Many in Europe still don't realize this war is not just a local conflict
- Ukrainian fighters have been heroic in their resistance despite lacking air superiority, naval power and sufficient artillery
- However, Ukraine is reaching the limits of successful offensives without more supplies as each side faces extreme difficulty in breaking through entrenched positions
Russian Indoctrination of Children
Anton Gerashchenko shares how at a festival called "Peaceful Warrior of the Russian Federation" held in Tomsk, Russia, a shooting range was set up for children with photos of Biden, Zelensky and Stoltenberg (NATO head) used as targets instead of standard bullseyes. They are portrayed as the "mortal enemies" of Russian children.
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Russian Casualty Figures and Regime Logic
- Gerashchenko compares Russian losses in Ukraine, amounting to hundreds of thousands, to the much lower casualty figures in the Soviet-Afghan war and First Chechen war, after which Russia/USSR withdrew
- Despite the staggering losses, Putin shows no intention of stopping the war and the Russian population seems to accept it
- Ukrainian leadership and Western allies assumed there would be a limit to the losses Russia would tolerate before seeking an exit or the Russian people would revolt as in previous wars
- However, the Kremlin's logic is different - there is no acceptable price, only total victory or defeat. Losing the war is an existential threat to Putin's regime.
- Therefore, any price for victory is tolerable and defeat is not an option for Putin
- To counter this, Ukraine and its allies must undermine Russia's combat potential by providing Ukraine the tools it needs in full and on time
- Sanctions and closing loopholes remain crucial
- Ukrainian victory must mean Russia's defeat, not just deterrence, to end the war sustainably
Challenges on the Frontlines - Mice Infestation
Jonathan shares a video demonstrating the severe mice infestation problem facing soldiers in the trenches and dugouts on the frontlines. Unharvested crops have led to a population explosion and hundreds of mice are shown fleeing a Russian vehicle as soldiers attempt to clear them out. It illustrates one of the many hardships the fighters face.
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Optimism and Resilience - Amputee Grandmother
The video features the inspiring story of Lubev Prochukhan, a 75-year-old Ukrainian grandmother who lost her leg last year while tending cows. Despite this, she maintains a positive spirit and even waltzed on her new prosthetic for the medical staff treating her in Austria. She describes the incident, her treatment journey, and how her doctors were amazed by her energy and resilience. It's a heartwarming tale amidst the tragedy of war.
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The Emotional Toll of War
A moving video shows a Canadian volunteer in Ukraine describing the emotional impact of living there during the war. While shopping for gifts for children with cancer and soldiers to send home, she encounters an amputee soldier and thanks him for his service. The cashier breaks down crying after he leaves, even though Kiev is far from the front. The volunteer reflects on how the war affects everyone and you can't escape the reminders of the sacrifices made. She describes Ukraine as "hell" because even in good moments, your mind and heart are weighed down by the suffering and loss. It's a poignant insight into the collective trauma and pain the war has inflicted on Ukrainians.
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Wrap up
Jonathan ends the video here, allowing the emotional impact of the final clip to linger without further comment.
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