Our friends in Ukraine continue to suffer from Russian attack but are undeterred from delivering humanitarian aid.
The Fingerprints of War
Our friend Sergei shared images of a mall that was destroyed, homes that were devastated, and Canadian aid given to workers at a hospital.
Notice the flowers in the garden in the picture above. Not too long ago, a family lived here and someone had a love for gardening. Everywhere you travel in Ukraine there are gardens beautifying the front yards of homes.
Justice
On the political news front, Ukrainians were treated to an unprecedented spectacle which high-lighted the strength of their democracy: the continuing fall from grace of Andriy Yermak, former chief of staff of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Yermak was Zelensky’s right-hand man for nearly six years. During his rule he earned a reputation as a power-hungry, incompetent, and overreaching chief of staff. His unshakable position was entirely based on his personal friendship with Zelensky, and the president’s full trust.
Yermak was finally let go at the end of last year. An ongoing corruption investigation into Zelensky’s close circle reached him.
Ukraine’s Democracy
Olga Rudenko, editor of the Kyiv Independent, says, “But this is good news — really, really good news.
A year ago, the phrase ‘Yermak is in jail’ would seem absurd — the man was at the height of his power. Now he is scrambling for bail. This is democracy in action: no untouchables.
In a young democracy like Ukraine, you don’t take these things for granted. Frankly, they shouldn’t be taken for granted anywhere. Can you imagine Donald Trump’s top official and closest confidant facing charges while Trump is in the White House?”
Drone Attack
Last week, Russia hit Ukraine with several waves of a mass aerial attack, combining 1,567 drones and 56 missiles of various types. Ukraine’s success rate in intercepting them was 94% for the drones, and 73% for the missiles, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Several western Ukrainian cities were targeted while Kyiv was the main target on Thursday.
The attack on Kyiv was one of the deadliest that the city has seen in the war so far. A missile hit a high-rise apartment building in the city’s eastern part, completely destroying a section of it — leaving a pile of rubble where dozens of lives were once lived.
After a long search operation, the death toll of the strike was announced to be 24 people, including three children.
Two of the victims were daughters of a fallen Ukrainian soldier, killed three years ago. Russia first took their father, then reached and killed them at home in Kyiv.
Truth
The editor of the Kyiv Independent wrote, “It’s easy to frame the mass attack as Russia’s ‘retaliation’ for the humiliation it suffered when Ukraine threatened the safety of its precious May 9 parade, but I would warn us to stay away from this framing that unjustly shifts the responsibility to the victim. Russia has been known to kill Ukrainian civilians with passion and regularity that shouldn’t be interpreted as a reaction to being provoked.”
This weekend I will be in Leask, Saskatchewan, talking about our Ukraine. They will raise an offering. I would love to tell them that they could double their money because my friends will match their giving. Is that you? Please email me at bob.pb.jones@gmail.com to let me know if you will give. Thank you.
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