The War in Ukraine

[Czech_pivo]

Why would the UAE broker a prisoner exchange?

Because there’s not enough blond 20-25yr olds young women from Russia/Ukraine going to the UAE for ‘modelling’ or ‘hostess’ jobs anymore.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Meanwhile in Russia, ISIS prisoners have captured a prison, killing some of the guards and holding the others hostage. (some gore warning)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1826933184765784433

I think UAE’s been involved in mediating a number of these so far in the war.

UAE is rich but small, they depend on being a good broker for the world ills to avoid being swept up in the maelstrom.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

What do you get when you combine women and Twin Maxim's? The "Witches" of SHORD
(you need to translate)

“Более ярые, чем мужчины”. Как бучанские ведьмы и валькирии уничтожают “Шахеды” из пулеметов “Максим”

На счету бучанских “Ведьм” и “Валькирий” - так назвали женские группы ПВО в Бучанском ДФТГ - уже несколько уничтоженных “Шахедов” и попадание в северокорейскую баллистику. УП рассказывает историю защитниц неба и показывает их работу. (укр.)

www.pravda.com.ua

 

[The Bread Guy]

UKR def int taking credit for working with hackers to poke the electronic bits of USSR 2.0's nuke-ish stuff ....

Nuclear Munitions Developer Paralysed – Details of New Cyber Operation in russia

gur.gov.ua

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Cyberattacked the russian Nuclear Weapons Manufacturer | Defense Express

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence cyber specialists, in collaboration with the BO Team cyber activists, successfully conducted operations near Chelyabinsk

en.defence-ua.com

Ukraine’s intelligence successfully attacks Russian Internet provider, used by nuclear munitions developer – photos

Cyber specialists of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, together with the hacker group BO Team have paralysed the work of a Russian nuclear weapons development facility near the city of Chelyabinsk by successfully attacking a local Internet provider.

www.pravda.com.ua

UKR defence intelligence statement (original English) also attached if original link doesn't work.

 

[dimsum]

Diane Francis (editor-at-large of the National Post) had an interview with Times Radio yesterday.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Why would the UAE broker a prisoner exchange?

In this months old article about a previous prisoner exchange is a brief explanation of what the UAE brings to the table that makes them an effective broker.

UAE Behind Successful Prisoner Exchange Between Ukraine and Russia - The Media Line

The United Arab Emirates was the primary mediator […]

themedialine.org

With close economic and diplomatic ties to both Moscow and Kyiv’s Western allies, the UAE has maintained a relatively strict policy of neutrality in the conflict since Russia’s 2022 invasion. In Tuesday’s statement, the country credited “its distinct ties and partnership with both sides” as the key factor in its ability to mediate the deal.

The UAE has facilitated at least five similar prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine, the last being in late May of this year.

The oil-rich emirate’s neutral position in the Russia-Ukraine war has at times frustrated its Western allies and partners, namely the United States, a key economic and military partner in the region who would prefer Abu Dhabi participate in the sanction regime targeting Russia.

So far, they haven't taken sides; they haven't imposed sanctions on the Russians (other than suggesting, wink, wink, that they do not violate US or EU sanctions about re-exporting listed goods) and haven't provided material support to either side. With even Switzerland imposing limited sanctions on Russia, the traditional neutrals who would take the lead in brokering such deals may not be acceptable to Russia.

(edited to add) . . . , and most importantly, they are rich enough that they don't have to take handouts foreign aid from any of the interested parties.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Who to believe, who to believe?

Pope Condemns Ukraine Move To Ban Activities Linked To Russian Orthodox Church

Pope Francis on August 25 condemned the latest action by Kyiv to ban religious organizations with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church from operating in Ukraine.

www.rferl.org

RUS state media's version (archived link)

What the Vatican Info-machine says the Pope said

Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis expressed his fear regarding religious freedom in Ukraine with reference to the parliament's recent decision to ban the Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate.

“I continue to follow with sorrow the fighting in Ukraine and the Russian Federation. And in thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for all. A person does not commit evil because of praying. If someone commits evil against his people, he will be guilty for it, but he cannot have committed evil because he prayed. So let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church. Please, let no Christian Church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches are not to be touched!”

Kyiv's decision​

The bill voted on 20 August in Kyiv by an overwhelming majority gives the parishes concerned nine months to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, an action that drew an immediate reaction from the Moscow Patriarchate, which commented that it was a "clear violation of internationally recognised human rights in the field of religious freedom."

Prayers for peace​

Pope Francis again called on everyone to pray for an end to wars, mentioning Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and every part of the world suffering from them. He emphasized, "the people are asking for peace! Let us pray that the Lord will give us all peace."

 

[brihard]

Who to believe, who to believe?

Pope Condemns Ukraine Move To Ban Activities Linked To Russian Orthodox Church

Pope Francis on August 25 condemned the latest action by Kyiv to ban religious organizations with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church from operating in Ukraine.

www.rferl.org

View attachment 87569
RUS state media's version (archived link)
View attachment 87568
What the Vatican Info-machine says the Pope said

Who gives a rat’s ass what the pope says on this, frankly?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Who gives a rat’s ass what the pope says on this, frankly?

A lot of Catholics.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Who to believe, who to believe?

Pope Condemns Ukraine Move To Ban Activities Linked To Russian Orthodox Church

Pope Francis on August 25 condemned the latest action by Kyiv to ban religious organizations with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church from operating in Ukraine.

www.rferl.org

View attachment 87569
RUS state media's version (archived link)
View attachment 87568
What the Vatican Info-machine says the Pope said

Having been raised a Roman Catholic in the Newfoundland Irish tradition (in other words, now an atheist agnostic), I think I'll side with the Ukrainians. While Francis may have a duty to defend religious freedom, the activities of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in relation to the invasion of Ukraine have strayed over the line of separation between church and state.

From pulpit to propaganda machine: tracing the Russian Orthodox Church’s role in Putin’s war

reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk

And a piece from, of all places, the American Conference of American Catholic Bishops, that more clearly provides the Ukrainian perspective.

Pope expresses concern about religious freedom in Ukraine

The pope spoke about a Ukrainian law that bans the Russian Orthodox Church and affiliation with it because of its official support of Russia's war on Ukraine...

www.usccb.org

. . . The Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See, in a statement posted a few hours later on X, said the pope's concern "is unfounded. The law in no way concerns 'the freedom of one who prays.'"

Instead, the tweet continued, the law aims "to establish logical and reasonable restrictions that are necessary in a democratic society" to protect the nation, "which is facing aggression on a vast scale by a state that uses the church, particularly the Russian Orthodox Church -- both in Russia and through its affiliates in Ukraine -- as a weapon and a launching pad of aggression not only against Ukraine but also against the civilized world."

Ukraine "respects and observes the principles of freedom of conscience and religion," the embassy's post said.

The Religious Information Service of Ukraine, which was founded at the Catholic University of Ukraine in Lviv, reported Aug. 21 that Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said the law "is not a ban on the church, but a means of protection from the danger of using religion as a weapon."

According to the archbishop, RISU wrote, the law aims "to protect the religious environment of Ukraine from the instrumentalization and militarization of religion, which has become characteristic of the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the context of war."

RISU also quoted Viktor Yelensky, head of Ukraine's State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, as saying that once the leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate has severed ties with Moscow, it could unite with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, or it could determine its own canonical status.

 

[brihard]

A lot of Catholics.

A lot of Catholics can pipe down if they think their religion trumps Ukraine’s right to independence and sovereignty. The Russian Orthodox Church is a partisan agent of the Russian state. That church works for UkraineMs enemy; Ukraine is completely right and reasonable to ban it from Ukraine. Dressing something up in religion doesn’t validate it if it was otherwise evil.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The Pope is worried about the ban on how someone prays. He is rightly worried about the precedent of it. He is not opposed to limiting evil acts.

 

[brihard]

The Pope is worried about the ban on how someone prays. He is rightly worried about the precedent of it. He is not opposed to limiting evil acts.

Good thing the Ukrainians aren’t banning how anyone prays then. They’re banning the corporate entity that is the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine because they act as an enemy agent. The Catholic Church has nothing to worry about unless they similar serve as a hostile state’s puppet.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The Catholic Church has nothing to worry about unless they similar serve as a hostile state’s puppet.

They would be seen as such in almost every Islamic country.

 

[brihard]

They would be seen as such in almost every Islamic country.

Sure, but Ukraine has no bearing on that. Ukraine isn’t setting any precedent that shouldn’t be set.

 

[lenaitch]

Whether it is a proxy for the Russian government, or whether they simply know what they have to do in order to survive (including their assets), I don't know, but the Russian Orthodox church has officially supported the invasion from pretty much the get-go.

Interesting that the Pope uses the word "abolish", and only seems concerned about "Christian" praying. On the other hand, at least he is commenting on the Eastern Orthodox Rite churches. They haven't really gotten along for several centuries.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Accuracy, brevity & clarity in the headline for the latest UKR Prez speech o' the evening (also archived here) ....

... with a bit of "hey, could we get even more of a hand here, guys - you're doing it elsewhere, no?" (all highlights mine) ...

... and back to naming a few names re: the headline

Doubt any of the "European neighbours" are ready to send their planes in to fly wing-to-wing with UKR fast air, but the pressure continues to push for UKR's version of "give us the tools, and we'll do the job" (with an "if you'll let us" caveat tacked on).

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Whether it is a proxy for the Russian government, or whether they simply know what they have to do in order to survive (including their assets), I don't know, but the Russian Orthodox church has officially supported the invasion from pretty much the get-go.

Interesting that the Pope uses the word "abolish", and only seems concerned about "Christian" praying. On the other hand, at least he is commenting on the Eastern Orthodox Rite churches. They haven't really gotten along for several centuries.

How to strengthen the protection of your nuclear plant +2 for Holy guidance

https://twitter.com/x/status/1827383391827722624

 

[Kirkhill]

They would be seen as such in almost every Islamic country.

And China

 

[suffolkowner]

A proper pope would be calling for a crusade