Difference between revisions of "Ukraine"
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{{Country | {{Country | ||
|name =''Україна<br/>Ukrayina'' | |name =''Україна<br/>Ukrayina'' | ||
| − | |map =Ukraine | + | |map =Ukraine after 2022 referendums.jpg |
| − | |map2 = | + | |map2 =Ukraine location.png |
| − | |flag =Flag of Ukraine. | + | |flag =Flag of Ukraine.svg |
|arms =Arms of Ukraine.png | |arms =Arms of Ukraine.png | ||
| − | |capital = | + | |capital =Kyiv |
|capital-raw = | |capital-raw = | ||
| − | |government = | + | |government = |
| − | |government-raw = | + | |government-raw =[[Semi-presidential republic]] |
|language =Ukrainian | |language =Ukrainian | ||
| + | |language2 =Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkic, Greek, Yiddish;<br>banned by official decree: Russian | ||
|king = | |king = | ||
|queen = | |queen = | ||
|monarch-raw = | |monarch-raw = | ||
| − | |president = | + | |president = |
| − | |president-raw = | + | |president-raw =[[Volodoymr Zelensky]] (de jure)<br/>[[Ruslan Stefanchuk]] (Acting)<ref>https://inews.co.uk/uncategorized/who-is-ruslan-stefanchuk-ukrainian-politician-takeover-volodymyr-zelensky-if-killed-1501700</ref> |
|chancellor = | |chancellor = | ||
|chancellor-raw = | |chancellor-raw = | ||
| − | |pm = | + | |pm = |
|pm-raw = | |pm-raw = | ||
| − | |area = | + | |area =209,193 sq mi |
| − | |pop = | + | |pop =18,000,000 (2023 estimate)<br/>36,744,636 (including disputed territories) |
|pop-basis = | |pop-basis = | ||
| − | |gdp = | + | |gdp =$195,000,000,000 (2021) |
| − | |gdp-year = | + | |gdp-year = |
| − | |gdp-pc =$ | + | |gdp-pc =$3,429 (2020) |
|currency =Hryvnia | |currency =Hryvnia | ||
| − | |idd = | + | |idd =+380 |
| − | |tld = | + | |tld =.ua |
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''Ukraine''' is | + | '''Ukraine''' is the name of a territory in [[Eastern Europe]] meaning "borderlands". The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) was a former constituent republic of the [[Soviet Union]] created by the [[Bolshevik]]s. Its administrative center was [[Kyiv]]. The land bordered [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]], [[Romania]], [[Moldova]] and the [[Russian Federation]]. |
| − | + | Post-1945 Ukraine, which was a member state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, became a patchwork of lands and territories annexed from what was known in [[the West]] as the "Captive Nations" - [[Poland]], [[Hungary]], [[Romania]], [[Czechoslovakia]] and [[Russia]]. The [[NATO]] alliance was created in the [[Cold War]] era to "liberate" the "Captive Nations". In an irony of history, in the post-[[Cold War]] 21st century, the [[NATO]] alliance provoked war to maintain Soviet Ukraine's [[Stalinist]] borders. | |
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| + | Recent research by [[nationalist]] scholars claim the Cossack Hetmanate [[state]] occupied similar borders during the 1600s and 1700s during which some referred to it as Sloboda Ukraine.<ref>Kryzhanivsky, S.A.; Hajda, L.A.; Yerofeyev, I.A.; Zasenko, O.E.; et. al. (2025, July 17). "[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/The-autonomous-hetman-state-and-Sloboda-Ukraine The Autonomous Hetman State and Sloboda Ukraine.]" ''Encyclopædia Britannica.''</ref> The current [[Ukrainian regime]] officially claims to be the only "racially pure" legitimate successor to the [[Kievan Rus]], viewing ethnic [[Russian]]s as [[subhuman]] [[Asia]]tic hordes. According to the Historian Kathryn David: "The Catholic presence in Lviv is not simply a historical curiosity. The [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] has played an outsized role not just in the local culture, but in the creation of the Ukrainian nation".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/breach|title=Into the Breach - The role of Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church|date=January 18, 2023|website=Commonweal Magazine}}</ref> | ||
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| + | It was artificially carved out of the [[Russian Empire]] by the [[Bolsheviks]] as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1922<ref>[https://davidstockman.substack.com/p/the-ukrainian-border-war-folly The Ukrainian Border War Folly], [[David Stockman]], June 17, 2024. "The only time the borders of Ukraine have been redrawn at the barrel of a gun is when Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev did it between 1922 and 1954. That’s right, this [[Ursula von der Leyen|bureaucratic half-wit]] wants to embroil the world in [[WWIII]] in order to enforce borders drawn by a trio if history’s most blood-thirsty [[tyrant]]s." davidstockman.substack.com</ref> having the precedent of the Ukrainian People's Republic claims which were rejected at the [[Paris Peace Conference]] (1918-20) by the victorious powers after WWI,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://shs.cairn.info/journal-materiaux-pour-l-histoire-de-notre-temps-2014-1-page-180?lang=en|title=Identification, Legitimation, and Stigmatization: The Ukrainian Delegation to the Paris Peace Conference (1918-20) through its Written Materials|author=Thomas Chopard|quote=In late 1918, a struggle was taking place on the Ukrainian territory of the former Russian empire, between the Soviet authorities, White Russian nationalists, and partisans of Ukrainian independence, over the reconfiguration and control of the state. At the same time, the Ukrainian People’s Republic decided to send a delegation to the Paris Peace Conference (1918-1920), at which it had only observer status. The written documents produced on this occasion, of which the BDIC’s Klotz archive has a particularly significant collection, give an insight into the cognitive horizon of the Ukrainian pro-independence elite of the time.|date=January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1919Parisv05/d79|title=Notes of a Meeting Held at President Wilson’s House in the Place des Etats-Unis, Paris, at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 1919|publisher=Office of the Historian|date=May 21, 1919}}</ref> or the short-lived monarchist anti-Bolshevik and defeated pro-[[Central Powers]] Hetmanat, Atamanat or Ukrainian State from 1918 with substantially different borders.<ref name=Hetmanat/> Its borders from 1922 to 2014 were drawn by [[Soviet]] [[dictator]]s [[Vladimir Lenin]], [[Joseph Stalin]], and [[Nikita Khruschev]] without the [[democracy|democratic]] consent of the inhabitants' resident there. Ukraine's territories were taken from neighbouring countries by the [[communist]] [[dictator]]s. While the Ukrainophile view of history talks about the [[Kievan Rus]]' as the precedent of Ukraine as a state, the Russophile view rejects it (view the [[#Historiography|historiography section]]), thus the existence of Ukraine as a separate entity inside the USSR is sometimes referred to as the "Lenin's mistake" by the latter. [[American foreign policy]] since 1991 has been to uphold the illegal, arbitrary and undemocratic decrees of Soviet dictators. The Historian Hryhoriy Pivtorak claims that: "On 22 October 1721, Peter I renamed his state Tsardom of Moscow to the Russian Empire and its inhabitants Muscovites to Russians".<ref>{{cite book|title=Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians: Three Peoples, Three Paths|author=Hryhoriy Pivtorak|date=2025|url=https://shron1.chtyvo.org.ua/Pivtorak_Hryhorii/UkrainiansBelarusiansRussiansThreePeoplesThreePaths_anhl.pdf?PHPSESSID=9prdav18tpl6m8v1p8f7317351|page=7}}</ref> | ||
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| + | Critics regard it as a failed state and puppet regime<ref>When a [[nation state]] cannot pay for its own defense in money or manpower, it has lost its independence and [[sovereignty]], and is commonly referred to as a "stooge state" or "puppet regime."</ref> since coming under the tutelage of [[NATO]] and the [[United States]] in an illegal [[coup]] in 2014. In 2015 it was rated as the most [[corrupt]] government in [[Europe]] due to corruption from Yanukovych holdovers; former President Yanukovych now being sheltered from accountability in Russia.<ref>Bullough, O. (2015, February 6). "[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/04/welcome-to-the-most-corrupt-nation-in-europe-ukraine Welcome to Ukraine, the Most Corrupt Nation in Europe.]" ''The Guardian.''</ref> After the [[violent]] [[coup]] organized, financed, and supported by the [[Obama/Biden administration]] in 2014, the Ukrainian regime became openly [[fascist]] and [[xenophobic]]. On the first day after the coup, the [[CIA]] and [[MI6]] formed a partnership with the [[intelligence agencies]] in Ukraine, which were rebuilt from scratch to be used as a partner against [[Russia]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/cia-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war.html The Spy War: How the C.I.A. Secretly Helps Ukraine Fight Putin], Feb 2 1015, ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> As late as 2020, the UK Counter Terrorism Policing agency listed the Ukrainian Trident, the country's official coat of arms, next to the [[swastika]] as "symbols commonly associated with [[white supremacy]]" since Neonazis have used the symbol.<ref name=AntiTerror>[https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51174898 Ukraine coat of arms in UK anti-terror list furore], By Georgina Rannard, [[BBC News]], 21 January 2020.</ref> Ukraine uses the symbol in reference to its historical kinship with Kievan Rus' which used it as Coat of Arms and in the coins which have been found by archeologists.<ref name=KievanRusCoins>[https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coins-of-the-kievan-rus.394099/ Coins of the Kievan Rus]</ref> Ukraine is one of Europe's most notorious human and child trafficing centers.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-human-traffciking-416319 Ukraine's Shame: An Epidemic of Human Trafficking], LUKE A. DRABYN, ''Newsweek'', 1/16/16.</ref> | ||
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| + | A "Ukrainian state" was created by the [[Bolshevik]]s with remnants of the Russian, German and Austro-Hungarian empires. No entity known as "Ukraine" existed prior to 1918. Other territories were seized by Stalin from Romania, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia - countries that provided troops to the German invasion of Russia during World War II. Later the Ukrainian-born Soviet communist and premier [[Nikita Khruschev]] severed the [[Crimean Peninsula]] from Russia proper, which had been a Russian territory for 400 years. The word itself, "Ukraine" literally means "border" or "borderlands". | ||
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| + | Post World War I, Ukraine consisted of many nationalities, linguistic, and religious groups<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080418030322/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-30078/Ukraine Interwar Soviet Ukraine], ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.</ref> with "ethnic Ukrainians" only dominating the western regions. Ukrainian nationalists led a wholesale [[genocide]] against Poles, Gypsies, Jews, and Russians residing in those same territories under Nazi tutelage during World War II. Many Ukrainian Nazis were resettled in Canada and the United States to avoid prosecution for [[war crime]]s. The Ukrainian diaspora community residing in [[North America]] became the core anti-Soviet and anti-Russian resistance organized by the [[CIA]] after 1947. The people who spoke the borderlands dialect of Russian, one of many groups occupying the borderlands, previously were known as Galicians. | ||
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| + | The territories were ceded to Germany by [[Lenin]] and [[Trotsky]] after the [[October Revolution]] in 1917, were non-aligned after the French and [[Angelo-American powers]] redrew the map and stiped Germany of its territorial possessions at the [[Treaty of Versailles]] in 1919, a Bolshevik Republic from 1922 to 1941,<ref>[https://dzen.ru/media/id/5f073d34db00016bd74b3365/kak-unr-plavno-uvelichilas-do-ussr-6309bf75f90f894d66c1b6ce HOW UKRAINIAN PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC BECAME UKRAINIAN SSR], Yuri Turkul, 29 August 2022.</ref> a Nazi ally from 1941 to 1944, and again an independent Soviet Republic from 1944 to 1991 with a seat in the [[United Nations]] General Assembly. By the 21st century, Ukraine had no independent history or literature of its own outside of the [[Russian World]]. | ||
| + | [[File:Einsatzgruppen 1941-1944.PNG|right|300px|thumb|The mobile [[German]] ''[[Einsatzgruppen]]'' death squads were assisted by local Ukrainians who identified their Jewish neighbors and assisted in the mass killings.<ref>[https://ukrainianjewishencounter.org/en/the-ukrainian-auxiliary-police-in-kyiv-and-adjacent-areas-pt-1-formation-and-activities/ The Ukrainian Auxiliary Police in Kyiv and Adjacent Areas, pt. 1: Formation and Activities], June 24th, 2024. Daniil Sytnyk. ukrainianjewishencounter.org</ref>]] | ||
| + | Of the 50 million plus lives lost in [[World War II]], at least 30 million of various ethnicities came from, or will killed in, the territories of the borderlands, or "Ukraine". World War II was principally fought in Ukraine, and not in [[France]] or [[Belgium]] or in the skies over [[Great Britain]]. The war set neighbor against neighbor, with local Ukrainian, Lithuanian and [[Baltic group|Baltic]] [[partisan]] groups fighting with the Nazis against local Russian, Belarussian and other partisan resistance groups defending themselves from Nazi aggression. While the German [[SS]] overlords implemented [[Hitler]]'s policy of extermination, it was Ukrainian and [[Lithuanian]] collaborators who did much of the dirty work in fingering their neighboring [[Jews]] and assisting in executions. | ||
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| + | World War II did not end in Ukraine with the fall of [[Berlin]] and German surrender in 1945. Armed resistance by nationalists against the Soviet Union, aided by the [[CIA]] from its inception in 1947 until 1954,<ref>[[James Forrestal]], who was in charge of [[Operation Nightingale]], was likely murdered by [[Holocaust]] survivors or their relatives</ref> and thereafter continued covertly until the present day. Unlike [[East Germany]], the prevalence of [[Nazi]] [[ideology]] in Western Ukraine is a problem that the Soviet Union, and the 1991 successor Ukrainian state, never were able to fully de-nazify.<ref>[[Denazification]] were laws and legal precedents established by the [[Allied Powers of World War II]] through various denazification tribunals in post-World War II [[Germany]]</ref> Like modern Russians who take pride in their ancestors who served in the [[Red Army]] and defeated fascism, Ukrainian nationalists today boast of their grandfathers who collaborated with the [[Third Reich]] and resisted Soviet Communism. However, Ukrainian nationalism was never just a resistance to an ideology, but rather a [[xenophobic]] race-based hatred of [[Russian]]s and other groups they felt a superiority to. | ||
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| + | Since the US-backed [[Maidan coup]] of 2014, monuments and memorials to Soviet soldiers who defeated fascism have been defaced and torn down while Ukrainian nationalists glorify their Nazi past. | ||
| + | [[File:Chechen leader addresses POWs.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Russian [[Chechen]] commander addresses Ukrainian [[POW]]s, 2022.]] | ||
| + | Unlike [[Russia]], Ukraine advances the [[Soros]]-backed [[homosexual agenda]] with [[gay pride]] parades.<ref>[https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/keep-spirit-maidan-alive George Soros Ukrainian youths sit near a fire late into the night in Kyiv's Maidan on February 25,]</ref> Also in contrast with Russia, Ukraine's leadership is [[liberal]] under the influence of western [[globalist]]s. | ||
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| + | Ukraine has always possessed much ethnic [[diversity]]. It is the crossroads of East and West, Europe and Asia, North and South, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, Christendom and Islam. It had a significant Russian population in its eastern provinces, and many of these Russians declared independence after the Maidan coup and the NATO-backed ethninc cleansing campaign. Ukraine has significant Tatar, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, Greek, and Rusyn populations in its southern and western provinces. Throughout history Ukraine has been the site of some of the worst [[human rights]] atrocities on the planet. The former territory of Crimea was once populated by Crimean Tatars, but their presence was drastically reduced by the de-population policies of [[Joseph Stalin]]. | ||
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| + | To the north and east Ukraine shares a border with [[Russia]]; it shares a border with [[Belarus]] to the north and [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]] and [[Hungary]] to the west. The counties of [[Romania]] and [[Moldova]] are to the southwest. The [[Black Sea]] is to the south, offering access to the [[Mediterranean]] via the [[Dneiper River]]. The capital city is [[Kyiv]] and the main religion is [[Eastern Orthodox]] Christianity. Ukrainians accentuate Kyiv different from how Russians do (Keev, not the Russian KEY-ev).<ref>https://www.polygraph.info/a/hey-daily-mail-it-s-ky--yeev-not-keev-/30281142.html</ref> | ||
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| + | Ukraine is frequently in the news in the [[United States]] due to politicians, most notably [[Joe Biden]]'s family, personally profitting from the country since the U.S.-backed overthrow of the democratically elected government. President [[Donald Trump]] was criticized by [[liberal]]s for asking Ukrainian leaders to investigate the potential corruption, which Ukrainian leaders failed to do. The United States Department of Defense has funded 11 biological research laboratories in Ukraine. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', the [[North Korean]] ballistic missile capable of a [[nuclear bomb]] attack on [[Seattle]] and [[Los Angeles]] is based upon a design that came from Ukraine.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/world/asia/north-korea-missiles-ukraine-factory.html</ref> The [[Biden regime]] has argued that each nation is free to build military alliances with whatever nation is chooses. In 2022, Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky suggested Ukraine should acquire or base nuclear weapons there.<ref>https://www.rt.com/russia/550057-zelensky-dangerous-nuclear-ukraine/</ref> | ||
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| + | The Ukrainian government which was installed in a [[coup]] in 2014 by the [[Obama administration]] worked with the [[Democratic National Committee]] to gin up the [[Russia Collusion hoax]], demonize [[Vladimir Putin]], interfere in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]], and turn American public opinion against [[Russia]] for [[propaganda]] purposes. Since the 2014 [[Maidan coup]], euphemistically referred to as the "revolution of dignity" by globalists and leftists, Ukrainian operatives working in the [[Democratic party]] of the United States and the U.S. [[intelligence community]] have sought to drive the United States to war with Russia to prevent the breakaway republics of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk from seceding from the globalist-backed Kyiv regime and joining the [[Russian Federation]]. | ||
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| + | ==Etymology== | ||
| + | {{Cquote|The word "Ukraine" means "at the border". And in all the [[Slavic]] [[language]]s, it doesn't imply which side of the border, at the border. Its borders have been defined differently. Those borders, aside from [[Crimea]] that Ukraine had upon its independence, were actually created by [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] in an agreement they made. So you've got [[the West]] in effect supporting a fight against [[Russia]] to preserve the heritage of Hitler and Stalin.|||[[Jack Matlock]]}} | ||
| + | [[File:Use of the word Ukraine in the 16th Century.jpg|400px|thumbnail|Use of the word Ukraine in the 16th Century]] | ||
| + | According to the Historian Serhii Plokhy, "The word “Ukraine,” which in [[Bolshevik]] and post-Bolshevik times has been used to define an independent country in [[Eastern Europe]], has medieval origins and was first used by the [[Kievan Rus|Kievan]] chroniclers of the twelfth century to define the areas of today’s supposed [[nation-state]] of "Ukraine" bordering on the Pontic steppes. In the second half of the seventeenth century the term “Ukraine” entered the international vocabulary as one of the names of the Cossack polity created in the course of the Khmelnytsky Uprising (1648–57) led by the notorious [[antisemite]] [[Bogdan Khmelnytsky]]. By that time, European geographers could already locate Ukraine on the maps produced by the French engineer and cartographer Guillaume Levasseur de Beauplan. His, however, was not the first depiction of the border on a European map".<ref>{{cite book |last=Plokhy |first=Serhii |chapter=2. Placing Ukraine on the Map of Europe |title=The Frontline: Essays on Ukraine’s Past and Present |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2021 |pages=15-36 |doi=10.4159/9780674268852-005 |url=https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/mapa/files/princescossaksarticle.pdf?m=1607093596}}</ref> | ||
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| + | In the 1187 chronicle of the death of Prince Volodymyr Hlibovych of Pereyaslav the word appears: "And all the people of Pereyaslav wept for him... Ukraine tried hard for him".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visitukraine.today/blog/4339/how-the-name-ukraine-appeared-history-and-myths#the-first-appearance-of-the-name-ukraine|title=How the name "Ukraine" appeared: history and myths|publisher=Visit Ukraine}}</ref> | ||
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| + | The word "krai" has the same root origin as ''u kraya'' or "Ukraine", historically referring to the vast territories located along the periphery of the Russian state. The word krai means "border" or "edge", literally "cut off" or the end. The modern Russian state consists of 89 federal subjects. A federal subject can be a republic, oblast, krai, cities of federal status, or autonomous districts. There is almost no difference between an oblast and krai, the only difference is that the territory of a krai can include oblasts, and an oblast has no further subdivisions. | ||
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| + | The Radziwiłł map (early 17th century) is the first to explicitly label "Ukraine" (as "Outer Volhynia or Lower Dnieper") and mention "Cossacks," covering territories of the borderland. Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan's maps, including the 1648 "General Map of Ukraine" (Delineatio Generalis Camporum Desertorum vulgo Ukraina), depict Ukraine as a distinct region, influencing European cartography for centuries. Beauplan, a French engineer in Polish service, based it on surveys of Cossack lands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oldworldauctions.com/info/article/2022-03-Heart-of-Ukraine-in-Early-Maps|title=The Heart of Ukraine in Early Maps|publisher=Old World Auctions|author=Eliane Dotson}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/details/Ukrainae1 Old map of Ukraine : Tabula geographica Ukrainska by Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan]</ref> | ||
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| + | [[File:Johann Baptist Homann’s Ukrania quae et Terra Cosaccorum, 1716..jpg|400px|thumbnail|Johann Baptist Homann’s ''Ukrania quae et Terra Cosaccorum'' map from 1716.]] | ||
| + | According to a Harvard article made by Brian J. Boeck, the term "Ukraine" (Ukraïna) originally meant "borderland" or "frontier" and was used by Ukrainians, Russians, and Poles. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it came to refer to the Cossack lands of the Dnieper River basin. The ethnonym "Ukrainian" (ukraïnets') was used as a national name by only a small number of educated people in the 1840s. In Bolshevik times, millions of people had adopted or acknowledged the name. Before its revitalization in the 1830s, ukraïnets' was a general term for frontiersmen and a regional name for residents of certain districts. The article states there is no evidence it was consistently used as a national name in the early modern period. The widespread adoption of the name ''Ukraina'' for the entire national territory and population began in the 1870s. The conscious adoption and promotion of ukraïnets' was an achievement of the national movement to replace a diversity of names<ref>{{cite journal |last=Boeck |first=Brian J. |title=What's in a Name? Semantic Separation and the Rise of the Ukrainian National Name |journal=Harvard Ukrainian Studies |volume=27 |issue=1-4 |pages=33-65 |year=2004-2005 |url=https://www.husj.harvard.edu/articles/whats-in-a-name-semantic-separation-and-the-rise-of-the-ukrainian-national-name}}</ref> and competition for the hearts and minds of the people between the [[Catholic]] [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] and [[Orthodox]] [[Russian Empire]]. | ||
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| + | Historians and linguists in the 19–20th centuries explained the term "Ukraina" in the sense ‘borderland, frontier region, outskirts, marches’ etc. These meanings can be derived from the Proto-Slavic noun *krajь, meaning ‘edge, border’. Contemporary parallels for this are Russian okráina ‘outskirts’<ref>[https://www.google.com/search?q=google+traqnslate&sca_esv=63bae64319b805ad&sxsrf=ADLYWIKR4S1fgB0HxLn6X0pj3qCcvqY6TA%3A1725932233846&source=hp&ei=yaLfZpTeMKac0PEPz5KE6AU&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZt-w2fuN0BpX5ehOSPnn5PVC730m5EDa&ved=0ahUKEwjU5s7NnreIAxUmDjQIHU8JAV0Q4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=google+traqnslate&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhFnb29nbGUgdHJhcW5zbGF0ZTINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjIHEAAYgAQYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCjINEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYCkiLalCXTVj0ZHABeACQAQCYAXKgAe0LqgEEMTQuM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCEqAC5QyoAgvCAgYQswEYhQTCAhAQLhgDGOUCGOoCGIwDGI8BwgIQEAAYAxjlAhjqAhiMAxiPAcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgUQABiABMICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIKEAAYgAQYsQMYCsICEBAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFGAqYAxSSBwQxMi42oAf-gQE&sclient=gws-wiz Google Translate] outskirts = okraina (''окраина'').</ref> and kraj ‘border district’ and Polish, u kraya, meaning ‘borderlands’. | ||
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| + | The historian Norman Davies adds: "The question ‘on the edge of what?’, however, sparks controversy. One answer, since the term first appears in mediaeval times when Ukraine lay within the Jagiellonian realms of Poland-Lithuania, would be: ‘the borderland of Poland-Lithuania’. Others might say that Ukraine was ‘the Edge of Christendom’ or possibly of civilised settlement before the endless steppe. Russians think that Ukraine is the borderland of Russia".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=56853|title=A short history of language in Ukraine|date=October 2, 2022|author=Norman Davies|publisher=Language Log | ||
| + | }}</ref> | ||
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| + | In the Muscovy Principality between the 16th and 18th centuries the word ukraina/ukrayna sometimes referred to border regions of the tsar’s realm (similar to okrayina, “outskirts”), it also consistently referred to the Ukrainian lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth — territories far from Moscow’s frontiers. In fact, Muscovite documents often applied Ukraine to areas stretching from Chernihiv and Kyiv to Podilia, showing it denoted core Ukrainian territories, not just peripheries. | ||
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| + | By the mid-17th century, during Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s uprising, Ukraine became the political-territorial name for the Cossack Hetmanate, used alongside "Rus’" and later even "Little Russia". Official Russian documents, including treaties and proclamations, referred to the Hetmanate as Ukraine, confirming its recognition as a distinct polity. Russian rulers themselves, from Tsar Michael to Peter I and Empress Elizabeth, employed the term in this sense, applying it to the Hetmanate and its people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://localhistory.org.ua/texts/statti/ukrayina-ne-okrayina/|title=Україна – не окраїна. З історії назви Української держави|language=uk|publisher=Local History|author=Viktor Brekhunenko|date=April 26, 2022}}</ref> | ||
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| + | Ukrainian scholars, such as Serhiy Shelukhin, Fedir Shevchenko, Hryhoriy Pivtorak and Mykola Andrusyak propose that the name is derived from Ukraina in the sense of ‘region, principality, country’. Many medieval occurrences of the word can be interpreted as having that meaning. In this sense, the word can be associated with contemporary Ukrainian krajina, Belarusian kraina and Russian and Polish kraj, all meaning ‘country’ (see Translations, 'region of land').<ref>[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14124601]</ref> | ||
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| + | Other Historians reject the notion of the word as "borderland" and link the word instead to kraj/krajina (native land, country), and another view connects it to ukraïty (to cut off), meaning "a piece of land separated from the whole". Linguist V. Sklyarenko, is that Ukraina derives from kraj/krajina, but with a more complex development. In Old Slavic, kraj meant “piece of land,” and with the suffix -ina formed krajina (“territory, land belonging to a tribe”). From this, ukraj and later ukraina emerged as “a separated part of land/territory.” Over time, during the [[Kievan Rus’]] period, the meaning shifted: from “part of a tribal land” to “part of a principality,” and later simply “principality.” In medieval chronicles, different “ukrainas” referred to specific principalities (Pereyaslav, Galicia, Volhynia, Kyiv, etc.). According to them "ukraina" and "okrayina" were distinct words: the former meant a complete territorial unit, while the latter meant only a border area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://litopys.org.ua/pivtorak/pivt12.htm|title=«Україна» — це не «окраїна»|language=uk|publisher=ІЗБОРНИК}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Geography== | ||
| + | The total area of Ukraine peior to 2014 was 603,700 km<sup>2</sup> (233,090 sq. mi), making it, after Russia, the second largest country in [[Europe]]. Its coastline was 2,782 km. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The land of Ukraine is mostly [[steppe]]s and plateaus. There are mountains in the west of the country, the [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]]. The main rivers in Ukraine are the [[Dnieper]] and the [[Dniester]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Ukrainian climate is considered temperate continental. The levels of precipitation are highest in the west and north, and lower in east and southeast. The winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland, and the summers are warm across the greater part of the country, and hot in the south. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Kyiv]] and [[Lviv]] are important cities of the country. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Demography== | ||
| + | [[File:Russian language in Ukraine.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Russian language spoken in Ukraine]] | ||
| + | [[File:Percentage of Ukrainians voting yes in the country's 1991 referendum on independence.jpg|200px|thumbnail|Percentage of Ukrainians voting "yes" in the country's 1991 referendum on independence from the [[USSR]], the majority of each oblast did, including the East, with different percentages. 94% of [[Crimea]]ns voted for independence from [[Kyiv]] in 2014, on a referendum that wasn't convocated by the Ukrainian State.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Ukraine 2010 election.jpg|200px|left|thumb|2010 election results]] | ||
| + | There were at least 18 different nationalities totaling a pre-2014 population of about 46.5 million living within the territorial borders of the Ukraine in the early 21st century, with a population density of about 80 per square kilometer (200 people per square mile). Since the U.S.-backed [[Maidan coup]] in 2014, more than 10.5 million people fled the country, 3.5 million of those seeking refuge in [[Russia]], more than any other country. Another 11.2 million residents of [[Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], the [[Donetsk]] and [[Lugansk]] people’s republics and the [[Zaporozhye]] and [[Kherson]] regions voted in open [[democracy|democratic]] referendums to join the [[Russian Federation]]. Like [[Peoples Republic of China]]'s dispute with [[Taiwan]], the undemocratic [[Kyiv regime]] considers separatism a violation of the territorial integrity of the country. Ukraine lost 53.7% of its population since 2014. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The population was 73% Ukrainian and 22% Russian (with under 1% each of Poles, Jews, Bulgarians and others). Historically the countryside was heavily Ukrainian, while Russians dominated the cities, but in recent decades many Ukrainians have moved to the cities. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The country has been in demographic crisis since the 1980s. The population is shrinking 150,000 a year because of the lowest birth rate in Europe combined with one of the highest death rates in Europe. Life expectancy is falling. The nation suffers high mortality from environmental pollution, poor diets, widespread smoking, extensive alcoholism, and deteriorating medical care.<ref>Hanna H. Starostenko, "Economic and Ecological Factors of Transformations in Demographic Process in Ukraine" ''Uktraine Magazine'' #2 1998 online at [http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/wumag_old/archiv/2_98/economic.htm]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The phenomenon of lowest-low fertility, defined as total fertility below 1.3, is emerging throughout Europe and is attributed by many to postponement of the initiation of childbearing. Ukraine, where total fertility (a very low 1.1 in 2001), is one of the world's lowest, shows that there is more than one pathway to lowest-low fertility. Although Ukraine has undergone immense political and economic transformations during 1991–2004, it has maintained a young age at first birth and nearly universal childbearing. Analysis of official national statistics and the Ukrainian Reproductive Health Survey show that fertility declined to very low levels without a transition to a later pattern of childbearing. Findings from focus group interviews suggest explanations of the early fertility pattern. These findings include the persistence of traditional norms for childbearing and the roles of men and women, concerns about medical complications and infertility at a later age, and the link between early fertility and early marriage.<ref>Brienna Perelli-Harris, "The Path to Lowest-low Fertility in Ukraine" ''Population Studies'' 2005 59(1): 55-70. Issn: 0032-4728; not online</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to data published by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, Ukraine's fertility rate in 2023 dropped to 0.7.<ref>[https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/opinion/living-conditions-in-ukraine-are-resembling-a-new-slavery-a Living conditions in Ukraine are resembling a new slavery, a triumph of Western 'democracy' in the 21st century], Dmitri Kovalevich, Al Mayadeen, 20 Aug 2023</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Despite high rates of poverty, Ukraine is in the forefront of the global high-tech information and propaganda war. | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Language, Religion, Culture== | ||
| + | [[File:Old and young woman from the Ukraine in traditional clothes.jpg|250px|frameless|right]] | ||
| + | Ukrainian people are mostly [[Eastern Orthodox]] Christians as of 2021, approximately 60% were. 9.6% identify as Ukrainian Greek Catholic. Approximately 8% identify as "just Christian", 1-2% Protestants and 0.5-1.5% as [[Roman Catholic]] ([[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|Greek]] and Roman Catholics are part of the Catholic Church). Non-religious decreased from 11.9% in 2000 to a 5% in 2021. Since the fall of the URSS, religiosity has risen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/ukrainian-culture/ukrainian-culture-religion|title=Ukrainian Culture - Religion|publisher=Cultural Atlas}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Population (2023 est.): 18,000,000. | ||
| + | *Males per 100 females: 96.5 | ||
| + | *People per sq. km: 61.6 | ||
| + | *Children per woman: 1.2<ref>[https://www.census.gov/popclock/world/up Population Clock - Ukraine]</ref> | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | Ukraine's significant cultural contributions include a strong tradition of Ukrainian folk art - particularly intricate embroidery known as "vyshyvankas"; iconic "Pysanka" decorated Easter eggs; Petrykivka painting style, musical traditions such as the "Carol of the Bells", and a literary heritage. Ukrainian cultural contributions are all rooted in Slavic customs and influenced by both Western and Eastern European cultures. Additionally, Ukrainian cuisine and hospitality are important aspects of its cultural identity.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life Britannica - Ukrainian culture]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In terms of societal structure, the territory of Ukraine is often referred to as a [[cleft country]] sitting on a "civilizational" fault line. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Despite the [[Zelensky regime]]'s [[war]] on the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], which is aligned with Russia,<ref>https://amuseonx.substack.com/p/zelenskys-tragic-mistake-waging-war</ref> [[Western Ukraine]] remains one of the most religious places of Europe having 85.1% of believers according to a recent poll.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://razumkov.org.ua/en/research-areas/surveys/religiosity-trust-in-the-church-confessional-division-and-inter-church-relations-in-ukrainian-society-october-2024|title=Religiosity, trust in the Church, confessional division and inter-church relations in Ukrainian society (October, 2024)|website= Razumkov Centre|date=January 29, 2025}}</ref> [[Lviv]] is a city of many churches which belong to the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodoxs and the Armenian Church.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.golivegotravel.nl/en/europe/lviv-things-to-do/|title=Lviv: 17 things to do in the most beautiful city of Ukraine|date=August 28, 2015|website=Go Live Go Travel}}</ref> The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has been growing in the city as followers from Eastern regions are joining.<ref name=Conversation2023>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/many-ukrainians-are-fleeing-to-the-greek-catholic-church-in-lviv-which-has-a-long-and-complex-history-in-the-orthodox-faith-198655|title=Many Ukrainians are fleeing to the Greek Catholic Church in Lviv, which has a long and complex history in the Orthodox faith|date=Febrary 7, 2023|website=The Conversation}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Language === | ||
| + | [[File:Languages of Ukraine.PNG|left|350px|thumb|Languages of Ukraine. The yellow areas are where the Ukrainian language is dominant. Red areas are where the Russian language dominates. Orange areas are a mix. The fascist regime of [[Kyiv]] has since the 2014 American-backed [[coup]] attempted to outlaw the Russian language.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Fascists are marching in Western Ukraine.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"The fascists march in [[Western Ukraine]]", from a [[Dutch]] newspaper in 1962.]] | ||
| + | In 2022, the [[Russian language]] was banned from public life by the fascist Ukrainian regime which is totally dependent upon the financial assistance from the [[United States Congress]] to continue its existence. People whose first and only language is Russian were made second-class citizens in the country of their birth. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to studies conducted by the Razumkov Center, 61% of Ukrainian citizens considered Ukrainian to be their native language, Russian - 36%, other languages - 2%. According to a survey conducted by Research & Branding Group, 68% of Ukrainian citizens are fluent in Russian (Ukrainian - 57%). According to a study by the American Gallup Institute, 83 percent of citizens surveyed chose Russian to communicate with the interviewer. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ukrainian [[Russophobia]] stems from the false assumption of racial superiority, which has been taught in Ukrainian schools for many decades: that Western Ukrainians are racially and linguistically completely different because they are direct descendants of [[Viking]]s and therefore [[Germanic]] or [[Teuton]] and therefore superior. This myth was cultivated by [[Banderite]]s in order to endear themselves to the [[Nazi]]s (the Nazis knew them to be only [[Slav]]s, while the Ukrainians went overboard to show assumed "Germanic" kinship, especially when it came to brutality, which often astonished even the Nazis). More bizarrely, versions of this myth are constantly repeated in all of [[Mainstream media|Western media]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Ukrainian language (previously, and correctly, known as "Little Russian" or [[Ruthenia]]n) is best understood as a dialect of Russian, therefore firmly and only [[Slavic]]. Russian and Ukrainian today are mutually intelligible. Ukrainian is not a [[Germanic]] language; no part of it is. It has no Germanic traces; no vestige of [[Old Norse]], the language of the Vikings. The Vikings left no trace in the Ukrainian language (unlike [[English]], for example, which is richly marked by Old Norse, as is [[Norman French]]). Nor is there any Viking (Germanic) [[DNA]] to be found among modern-day Western Ukrainians (who claim to be Viking descendants). They are all purely Slavic like their Eastern kinsmen whom they despise for being racially inferior [[Asian]]s (Russians). A variant [[dialect]] has been mythologized into a "racial difference;" and, sadly, it is this mythology that become the [[ideological]] fuel that drove the [[Kiev regime]] during the [[NATO war in Ukraine]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In an interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax news agency in late May 2022, Oleksandra Koval, director of the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI) which is part of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, estimated that more than 100 million copies of Russian language books would be removed from Ukrainian public libraries, fully half of all libraries’ holdings.<ref>https://thesaker.is/ukrainian-government-plans-book-banning-on-massive-scale/</ref> The city council of Nikolaev banned the teaching of the Russian language in schools.<ref>https://europe-cities.com/2022/06/18/the-authorities-of-nikolaev-banned-the-russian-language-at-school-from-september-1/</ref> According to a 2017 survey, 63% of the population spoke Russian, 7% Ukrainian, and 28% spoke both Ukrainian and Russian equally.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20170822212837/http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2017-8-22_ukraine_poll_presentation.pdf</ref> The Ukrainian parliament passed a bill to ban Russian-language music.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-to-ban-russian-music-culture/31905236.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Under Ukraine's fascist [[discriminatory]] laws, if a native Russian-speaking clerk-cashier in a convenience store attempts to sell you so much as a candy bar, the transaction must be conducted in the Ukrainian language. If both the cashier and customer are native Russian-speakers, both must put on fake Ukrainian accents under the [[racist]] regime's [[politically correct]] laws or suffer often cruel sanctions, up to and including public humiliation and violent beatings. | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Social conditions=== | ||
| + | [[File:Gay nazi.PNG|right|300px|thumb|[[Ukrainian nationalism]] has found free expression in contemporary Ukraine.<ref>https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=User%3AConservative&diff=2162526&oldid=2162492</ref>]] | ||
| + | At least two-thirds of those living in Ukraine have one or more known relatives living in [[Russia]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The religion is predominately [[Eastern Orthodox]]. In 1992 the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church]] split into two rival denominations, the Moscow Patriarchate and the unrecognized Kiev Patriarchate. In 2023 the Zelensky regime attempted to outlaw the Moscow Patriarchate. About 10%, primarily in the west, belong to [[Uniate]] churches with eastern rites but affiliated with the [[Roman Catholic Church]], a legacy of the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and later the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] when a section of the [[Russian Orthodox]] (Ruthenians or "Little Russians") were cut off from the main body of the Russian population, creating a localized [[dialect]] of the Russian language over about three centuries. These people, commonly referred to as 'Ukrainian" in [[Western media]] today, were historically known as [[Galicia]]ns. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are not only clear regional differences on questions of identity but historical cleavages remain evident at the level of individual social identification. Attitudes toward the most important political issue, relations with Russia, differed strongly between [[L'viv]], identifying more with [[Ukrainian nationalism]] and the Greek Orthodox religion, and Donetsk, predominantly Russian and favorable to the [[Russian world]], while in central and southern regions, as well as Kyiv, such divisions were less important. However, prior to the overthrow of the democratically elected government by the Obama administration in 2014, all were united by an overarching Ukrainian identity based on shared economic difficulties, showing that other attitudes are determined more by culture and politics than by demographic differences.<ref>Oksana Malanchuk, "Social Identification Versus Regionalism in Contemporary Ukraine." ''Nationalities Papers'' 2005 33(3): 345-368. Issn: 0090-5992 Fulltext in [[Ebsco]]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Poles are Roman Catholics of the Latin rite. The Tatars are Muslims. About 4% are atheists. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ukraine is widely known for its lively Cossack-style dancing ("hopak") and elaborately batiked Easter eggs ("pysanky") | ||
| + | |||
| + | Prior to 2022, Ukrainian civilian gun ownership was limited to 84th in the world.<ref>https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/cp/ukraine</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Important Ukrainian [[literary]] figures include Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko, and Lesia Ukrainka. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Attacks on the Russian church=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Unreported in the Western media propaganda complex were Zelensky regime's attacks on the Russian Orthodox Church. Priests were arrested and property seized in a fruitless hunt for weapons stored in churches. Jacob Driezen, who is fluent in Russian, summarized the attacks in December 2022: | ||
| + | [[File:SBU raids chuch.PNG |right|300px|thumb|Zelensky regime [[Ukrainian gestapo|gestapo]] raid on the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery, the preeminent center of Christianity since 1051 A.D. Other raids were carried out on the Cyril and Methodius Convent in [[Transcarpathia]], and in Rovno, Vinnitsa, and Zhitomir oblasts looking for "Russian spys" and propaganda.<ref>https://thedreizinreport.com/2022/11/25/dreizin-retires/</ref>]] | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|"The head (by other accounts, the press office) of the Ukraine’s military intelligence, the [[G.U.R.]], suggested the priests be traded for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia....In reality, the church is GUILTY of sermonizing for peace, and emphasizing (in its prayers and sermons) the historic bonds between Russians and Ukrainians which is seen as a THREAT to the post-2014 regime as, among other sins, it contradicts the “official [[narrative]]” (as per school history textbooks) that Ukrainians are an autochthonous ethnos with a distinct lineage and an integral, unified history separate from Russia’s. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In particular, the regime hates that the church, per 1000-plus year tradition refers to “Rus” or “Holy Rus” in its prayers and sermons (e.g., “we pray for the peace of Rus“). Even though (long story short) “Rus“—later Rossiya, or Russia in English—was basically founded in Kiev. | ||
| + | |||
| + | But, the regime hates that word. Regime official history is that the Ukraine has been the Ukraine, since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. | ||
| + | |||
| + | As I wrote before, the church (which is nominally under the Moscow Patriarchate) is also the last cultural bond between the Ukraine and Russia, that is not yet totally suppressed or illegal. So, it has to go. I won’t even be surprised if they dissolve the entire church soon, put its assets under the regime-approved breakaway faction.... | ||
| + | |||
| + | It appears, there are now plans to confiscate the Kiev-[[Pechersk Lavra]] and hand it over to the regime-approved breakaway faction. The head of the Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, [[Oleksiy Danilov]], a former racketeer from Lugansk, has said something along the lines of, “the site never really belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, it belongs to the people, and now we’ll see who gets to use it.” Speculation is, the first stage of confiscation will involve allowing the regime-approved breakaway faction to use the site co-equally with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church… before the latter is pushed out entirely. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In general…Anyone, today, in the Ukraine, who challenges the narrative or speaks out in any way is basically GUARANTEED to suffer physical harm and/or detention and prosecution for treason, perhaps disappearance, even death."<ref>https://thedreizinreport.com/2022/11/25/dreizin-retires/</ref>}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church === | ||
| + | {{Main article|Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Government== | ||
| + | Ukraine is run by an [[oligarchy]], with a small group of people amassing enormous fortunes as most of the nation labors in poverty. In 2014, the Pro-EU bloc with outside interference from the [[Western alliance]] overthrew the internal domestic pro-Russian bloc to seize power, resulting in massive chaos, the [[Crimean Annexation]], the ongoing [[Donbas conflict]] and a lingering economic crisis. This is in addition to how: | ||
* The worldwide [[Recession of 2008]] hit Ukraine hard and it is seeking international aid. | * The worldwide [[Recession of 2008]] hit Ukraine hard and it is seeking international aid. | ||
| − | |||
* Politics has been chaotic recently. | * Politics has been chaotic recently. | ||
| − | * Russia has used its oil and gas exports to | + | * Russia has used its oil and gas exports to influence Ukrainian politics and economics. |
* A strong (20%) Russian minority (mostly in the south and east) is campaigning for partition. | * A strong (20%) Russian minority (mostly in the south and east) is campaigning for partition. | ||
* The legal and economic systems are still controlled by powerful and secretive oligarchs. | * The legal and economic systems are still controlled by powerful and secretive oligarchs. | ||
| − | |||
| + | The Ukrainian army is a political force that is dominated by ultra nationalists who have been around since before [[World War I]]. In [[World War II]] these operators lined up with the [[Nazi]]s to oppose the [[Russia]]ns, and dirtied themselves by supporting the [[holocaust]] in Ukraine. The most famous was [[Stepan Bandera]]. During World War II he headed the OUN-B ([[Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists]], originally founded in 1929). In 1959 Bandera was assassinated by a [[KGB]] operative in [[Munich]] using a gun that fired [[cyanide]] dust. In 2010 Bandera was named a Hero of Ukraine. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[Western alliance|Western]] [[mainstream media]] has tended to whitewash the Bandera movement and its successors inside the Army of Ukraine such as the [[Azov Brigade]]. With pressure coming from the Ukrainian government, the [[Biden administration]] agreed to permit the flow of US weapons to the Azov brigade.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1vv6p9k1z1o</ref> When the Ukrainian government wanted to name a street after Bandera, which [[Jews]] in Ukraine strongly opposed, they were "persuaded" to stand down.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27173857</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Recent politics=== | ||
| + | [[File:LGBT Propaganda funded by US taxpayers.jpeg|center|650px|thumb|Ukrainian LGBT Propaganda funded by the American taxpayer.<ref>https://rumble.com/v536xno-ukraine-armed-forces-releases-lgbt-recruiting-ad.html</ref>]] | ||
| + | Ukrainian [[dictator]] [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] can stay in office only with the support of the Ukrainian army and, especially its intelligence arm, led by [[Kyrylo Budanov]] head of the dangerous [[GUR]]. It is difficult for [[military]] leaders to go against Zelensky and his nationalist backers. One of the reasons former commander of the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] [[Gen. Valerii Zaluzhny]] was exiled to [[London]] was his realization that Ukraine could not do more than hold off Russian pressure. Zelensky saw this as undermining his campaign to extract massive arms and financial support from [[NATO]]. To drive home the point, Zaluzhny's senior aide, Major Gennady Chastiakov was assassinated. Zaluzhny was removed as the Army commander six month after the murder and sent away to the [[UK]]. The Ukrainians insisted the assassination was an accident (someone put a live [[grenade]] in a box with inert grenades, given as a birthday present to Major Chastiakov). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Another possible replacement for Zelensky would be the head of the army, [[Oleksander Syrskyii]]. Syrskyii's tenure was beset by continued military setbacks and one temporary success, the [[NATO invasion of Kursk]]. That invasion caught the Russians by surprise. Since then, based on orders from Zelensky, numerous reserve battalions and some hardened units have been thrown into futile efforts to hold territory, even though its main objective was never achieved. That would have been the capture of the town of [[Kursk]] itself and its large [[nuclear power]] plant. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Racial theories and discrimination=== | ||
| + | [[File:Ukrainian nazi propaganda.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Official Maidan regime nazi propaganda posted to Twitter. It was later deleted.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220315202518/https://twitter.com/Uinp_gov_ua/status/1503439897025204224</ref>]] | ||
| + | The [[fascist]]-controlled [[Maidan regime]] indoctrinates [[public school]] children with racial theories about no blood relationship between Russians and Ukrainians. | ||
| − | + | Ukraine has the world's only national [[Constitution]] that includes genetic (or ‘racial’) purity as a responsibility of the Government to protect and maintain. Article 16 of Ukraine Constitution says "to preserve the genetic heritage of the Ukrainian people is the responsibility of the state."<ref>https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Ukraine_2019.pdf</ref> | |
| − | The | + | The cultural and domestic godfather of Ukrainian nationalism was Taras Shevchenko. This writer essentially formed the main line of Ukrainian nationalist ideology - [[Russophobia]], elevated to the state level, to the level of the leading and prime ideology. A successor of such ideas was the ideologist of the [[OUNb]], [[Dmytro Dontsov]], called the dissolution of the personality of the "Ukrainian" in the nationalist ideology and collective consciousness of the nationalist movement "a great self-dedication to the idea." His works had a huge impact on the subsequent ideologists of Ukrainian Nazism, [[Shukhevych]] and Bandera. Dontsov, who, on the basis of the works of [[Hitler]] and [[Mussolini]], developed the concept that Ukrainians differ from Russians not only in ethnic, cultural and linguistic ways, but also in racial characteristics. |
| − | + | On February 22, 2014, V. Yavorivsky, a member of the Batkivshchyna faction, introduced in Ukraine's [[Verkhovna Rada]] draft legislation proposing that standards of accountability for expressing personal opinions on Fascist crimes be abolished. Within days after the anti-democratic seizure of power, the provisional Maidan parliament passed legislation that declared Russian speakers no longer have equal rights with Ukrainians, legalizing [[discrimination]] against Russians. On February 24, 2014, in Zaporozhye, four extremists attempted to burn down a [[synagogue]]. On March 11, 2014, a bill was introduced in parliament by the Svoboda party proposing a 7-year sentence for speaking Russian in government offices and public places in Ukraine. | |
| − | + | In March 2014 Y. Perebiynis, head of the Information Policy Department of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Russians are not an indigenous people of Ukraine and therefore do not have the right to [[self-determination]] on Ukrainian territory. He also said that in Ukraine there are only four indigenous peoples: Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, Crimean Karaites and Krymchaks. Ethnic [[Czech]]s living in [[Volyn]] and Zhytomyr provinces (there is an estimated 10,000 and 20,000 Czechs live in Ukraine) appealed to the government of the [[Czech Republic]] for repatriation. Chair of the Society of Volyn Czechs E. Snidevich said, "We fear for our lives. There are bandits who call themselves ‘self-defense units.’ Nothing good will come of this." | |
| − | + | Beginning on March 20, 2014, Russians living in Ukraine started to complain ''en masse'' to the Consulate General of Russia in [[Kharkiv]] about pressure from Maidan authorities who demanded that they formalize their renunciation of Russian citizenship or leave Ukraine. | |
| − | Ukraine' | ||
| − | + | On March 24, 2014 a recording appeared on the internet of a telephone conversation between former Ukrainian prime minister and current presidential candidate [[Yulia Tymoshenko]] and former deputy secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine N. Shufrich. In it, Tymoshenko said, | |
| + | {{quotebox-float|"We have only one way to destroy Moscow. This is what we live for, we have come into this world to destroy [[Moscow]]. And not just the Muscovite in our country, but the whole black hole of European security, and delete them from the world map. Sh*t, we have to resort to arms, and the G*d d**n Kazapi-Russians<ref>Ukrainian ethnic slur for Kazakhs, Turks, Taters and Russians.</ref> together with their leader, kill. I will stir the whole world to action as soon as I can, in order that Russia, the s*n of a b**ch, no burnt field remains (scorched earth). You have to shoot them with [[nuclear weapon]]s."<ref>https://www.kla.tv/22511</ref><ref>https://archive.vn/QX2Ks</ref>}} | ||
| + | [[File:Nazi propaganda from US Embassy Kyiv.jpg|right|500px|thumb|[[Historical revisionism]], [[Russophobia]], and racist [[Nazi]] [[propaganda]] tweeted by the US Embassy in Kyiv, February 22, 2022, two days before the start of the [[special military operation]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKyiv/status/1496115593149358081 U.S. Embassy Kyiv @USEmbassyKyiv], 6:32 AM · Feb 22, 2022. twitter.com/USEmbassyKyiv</ref>]] | ||
| + | On January 16, 2022, Ukraine mandated that all print media are to switch to the Ukrainian language. State Language Protection Commissioner Taras Kremin said in a [[Facebook]] post, "In accordance with the law, print mass media can be produced in other languages, on the condition that the number of copies issued in a foreign language is equal to the number of copies issued in the state language [Ukrainian]. All language versions must be issued under the same name and be equal to each other in terms of content, volume, printing techniques. They must enter circulation under the same number and on the same day."<ref>https://tass.com/world/1388729</ref> | ||
| − | + | In March 2022 the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, a governmental entity, published in both Russian and English a series of arguments claiming Ukrainians are pureblood [[Slavs]], while the Russian nation was formed through race mixing with Asiatic tribes, "the Ugro-Finnish tribes: Muroma, Mernia, Wes, Meshchera, Moksha, Perm, Narova, and others,” it stated. The difference apparently is “visible to the naked eye”. Despite the common language, alphabet, history, society, culture, and literary traditions, the Institute denies that Ukrainians and Russians are "fraternal brothers," and states that Ukrainians are European, unlike "russian nomads" (spelled with a lower case "r". Several cabinet ministers in the Zelensky regime make a habit of always spelling "Russia" with a lower case "r".) | |
| − | + | In an interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax news agency in late May 2022, Oleksandra Koval, director of the Ukrainian Book Institute (UBI) which is part of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, estimated that more than 100 million copies of Russian language books would be removed from Ukrainian public libraries, fully half of all libraries’ holdings.<ref>https://thesaker.is/ukrainian-government-plans-book-banning-on-massive-scale/</ref> The city council of Nikolaev banned the teaching of the Russian language in schools.<ref>https://europe-cities.com/2022/06/18/the-authorities-of-nikolaev-banned-the-russian-language-at-school-from-september-1/</ref> The Ukrainian parliament passed a bill to ban Russian-language music.<ref>https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-to-ban-russian-music-culture/31905236.html</ref><ref>https://tass.com/world/1388729</ref> | |
| − | + | Secretary of the Security Council [[Alexei Danilov]] said on the air of the NTA TV channel that the Russian language must be completely eradicated on the territory of Ukraine. According to Danilov, the Russian language is allegedly hostile to Ukrainians, so it has no place in this country. "The Russian language in general should disappear from our territory as an element of hostile propaganda and brainwashing of our population," Danilov said on a national talk show.<ref>https://en.news-front.info/2022/10/21/national-security-and-defense-council-of-ukraine-the-russian-language-must-disappear/</ref> Danilov claimed that the "narrative" about the need to reach mutual understanding with Russian-speaking Ukrainians is highly dangerous for the state. "To plant these Russian narratives here is a very, very dangerous thing. Presumably, we have to understand each other, who they are, what they are. Look, we don’t want anything from them [Russians]. Why don’t they leave us alone? Let them go to their swamps and croak in the Russian language,” he stated. | |
| − | + | Danilov complained about a large number of Ukrainian political experts who regularly appear on television using Russian as the main language. In response to this, the show host proposed to create and broadcast a list of Ukrainian public figures that speak Russian. He also said that the state-owned Ukrainian channel Freedom will abandon the Russian language and start broadcasting in English. “I would like to draw your attention to something else – we have a lot of experts who go from channel to channel and use Russian as the main language of their communication. Moreover, they are rated in some studies, they claim, they say that they will go to the president, somewhere else. Look, the Russian language should disappear from our territories altogether as an element of enemy propaganda and brainwashing for our population,” Danilov added. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | In October 2022 it was reported that Ukrainian nationalists tore down statues of Hungarian historic figures. Ukraine sperm banks advertised specimens from "pure blood' Ukrainians. | |
| − | + | On November 10, 2022 the Kyiv City Council voted to remove the Russian language from the Maidan regime capital’s public school curriculum citing "[[national security]]."<ref>https://insideeducation.co.za/2022/11/11/kiev-introduces-new-restrictions-on-the-russian-language/</ref> | |
| − | + | According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Ukraine, which never existed prior to 1918, first applied to join the European Union in 988 A.D. ([[Anno Domini]]).<ref>https://youtu.be/6ryrNQibEGo?t=1378</ref> The European Union, which was founded as a coal and steel consortium in 1957, did not adopt the name "European Union" until 1992 A.D. after going through a series of other name changes. | |
| − | + | Soldiers of the Ukrainian regime were given a leaflet from the [[Kiev Patriarchate]] that read, | |
| + | {{quotebox-float|"You are a defender of Ukraine. Your duty is to defend [[Nezalezhnaya|Independence]] and fight Russian occupants. Your duty is to wipe the Russian nation from the face of the Earth. Your enemy is the [[Russian World]] which was created by defective sinful souls. To kill a Russian is not a [[sin]]."<ref>https://youtu.be/cl0Fh2p_cT4?t=142</ref>}} | ||
| + | On September 28, 2023, Vovan & Lexus, the famous radio DJs and pranskters, posing as ex-President [[Petro Poroshenko]], spoke with the [[transgender]] Ukrainian [[Territorial Defense]] spokesperson [[Sarah Ashton-Cirillo]] (American born Michael Cirillo, stated what is taught in Ukrainian [[public school]]s: | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|"Russians are not Europeans… Russians are Asian, and ultimately, they do come from the [[Mongol]]s. They do come from a grouping of people who want to be [[slave]]s and want to be led, just as it was from the days of [[Genghis Khan]]. I wish the rest of Europe and the [[Western civilization|Western world]] understood that Europe ends at Ukraine. We are protecting European values and Western values the same way those did hundreds and thousands of years ago when the Mongols came in…. Every Russian that supports Vladimir Putin’s decisions are not human. These people are not human. They are enemies of [[humanity]], in fact… we’ve been asking the Western world since the days of your presidency, sir, to make certain they understood the threat of these non-humans."<ref>[https://www.thepostil.com/justin-trudeau-and-the-banderites/ Justin Trudeau and the Banderites], C.B. Forde, ''The Postil Magazine'', October 1, 2023.</ref>}} | ||
| + | In November 2023 November 9, 2023 Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, stated that the issue of protecting the Russian minority is not raised in the negotiations with the EU on minority rights. "There is no Russian minority in Ukraine. It does not exist! There is not a single legally registered community that identifies itself as a Russian minority." The day before, the [[European Commission]] also stated at a closed briefing in [[Brussels]] that it would not take into account the "rights of Russian speakers" on Ukraine's path to the EU.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/no-russian-minority-ukraine-rights-092554145.html There is no Russian minority in Ukraine, so its "rights" do not come up in negotiations with EU – Ukraine's senior official], ''Ukrainska Pravda'', November 9, 2023.</ref> | ||
| − | == | + | ===Ministry of Digital Transformation=== |
| − | + | {{See also|Ministry of Digital Transformation}} | |
| + | =====Digital ID===== | ||
| + | {{See also|Digital ID}} | ||
| + | The Ukrainian government in 2020 launched Diia, a digital app that combines identity card, passport, license, vaccination record, registrations, insurance, health reimbursements and social benefits. In Ukranian, the word “Diia” means “action,” but it's also an acronym in that language, standing for “The State and Me.” Digital passports and other official documents are now considered legally equivalent to their paper versions, making Ukraine the first country to accomplish this. Some of the documents available via the app include citizens’ national identification card, a biometric passport, drivers’ licenses, vehicle registration certificates and insurance policies, voter ID, tax documents, birth certificates and [[COVID vaccine]] passport.<ref>https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/ukraine-government-converting-digital-id-system-wartime-tool/</ref> | ||
| − | + | ''Wired'' magazine described Ukraine's digital ministry, which operates the Diia app, as a “formidable war machine.” The Diia app includes the following war-related features: | |
| + | *A quick way to donate money to the Ukrainian military, including via cryptocurrency. | ||
| + | *A chatbot for submitting images and video of Russian troop movements in Ukraine. | ||
| + | *24-hour streaming access to television stations and newscasts from Ukraine. | ||
| + | *A chatbox where users can submit photos and videos that resembles a similar tool employed by [[New York City]] fascist authorities in 2020 for the reporting of [[social distancing]] violations.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/us/social-distancing-rules-coronavirus.html</ref> | ||
| + | Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, was praised by the [[World Economic Forum]] (WEF) for his work, in establishing the Diia app.<ref>https://www.weforum.org/people/mykhailo-fedorov</ref> Fedorov called for a crew of developers, designers, marketers and “security specialists” to join a volunteer “IT Army” — with 300,000 volunteers having been attracted. The online army's tasks include sharing the IP addresses of Russian websites and companies, in order for them to be targeted by [[DDoS]] (directed denial of service) attacks in an effort to knock them offline. | ||
| − | + | Fedorov described [[Twitter]] as “part of our war effort.”<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60608222</ref> Fedorov described the digital battlefield as “our home turf,” while ''The New York Times'' also reported on how Fedorov “has turned technology, cryptocurrency and social media into modern weapons of war.” According to the ''Times'', Fedorov stated: “They [the Russians] have failed to notice that… governments must move towards becoming more and more like tech companies, rather than being rigid like a tank, like a war machine.”<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/12/technology/ukraine-minister-war-digital.html</ref> | |
| − | + | =====Cryptocurrency===== | |
| − | == | + | {{See also|FTX scandal}} |
| − | |||
| − | + | =====Hackers and IT specialists===== | |
| + | [[File:Ukro-nazis.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The so-called "[[Ukrainian crisis|Revolution of Dignity]]" which the [[Obama administration]] supported. Written on the wall: “Ukraine for Ukrainians.”<ref>https://futuristrendcast.wordpress.com/tag/upass-bandera-crimes/</ref>]] | ||
| + | ''The Washington Post'' reported that Ukrainian officials ran thousands of facial recognition searches on dead or captured Russian soldiers in the first 50 days of the Russian incursion, using the scans to identify bodies and contact hundreds of families in Russia for what may be "one of the most gruesome applications of the technology to date."<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/15/ukraine-facial-recognition-warfare/</ref> | ||
| − | + | The country's IT Army, a force of hackers and [[activist]]s that takes its direction from the Ukrainian government, says it has used those identifications to inform the families of the deaths of 582 Russians, including by sending them photos of the abandoned corpses. | |
| − | The | + | The Ukrainians champion the use of face-scanning software from the U.S. tech firm Clearview AI. Some military and technology analysts worry that the strategy could backfire, inflaming anger over a shock campaign directed at mothers. |
| − | + | Stephanie Hare, a surveillance researcher in London, said it is “classic [[psychological warfare]]” and could set a dangerous new standard for future conflicts. “If it were Russian soldiers doing this with Ukrainian mothers, we might say, ‘Oh, my God, that’s barbaric.’ And is it actually working? Or is it making them say: ‘Look at these lawless, cruel Ukrainians, doing this to our boys?’ ” | |
| − | + | Clearview AI’s chief executive, Hoan Ton-That, told ''The Washington Post'' that more than 340 officials across five Ukrainian government agencies now can use its tool to run facial recognition searches whenever they want, free of charge. Clearview employees held weekly, sometimes daily, training calls over Zoom with new police and military officials looking to gain access. Ton-That recounted several “‘oh, wow’ moments” as the Ukrainians witnessed how much data — including family photos, social media posts and relationship details — they could gather from a single cadaver scan. Some of the Ukrainins used Clearview's mobile app to scan faces while on the battlefield. | |
| − | + | =====2024 conscription law===== | |
| − | ==Military and security== | + | ==Military, foreign intelligence, and internal security forces== |
| + | [[File:Slava Ukraine.PNG|center|650px|thumb|"Slave Ukraine" is the slogan used by [[Nazi]] collaborators who served in the [[German]] military and used by [[Ukrainian]] speakers as the equivalent of "[[Heil Hitler]]". ''The Times of Israel'' reported in 2018 it became the official salute of the Ukrainian military.<ref>See also [https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/250746 Fascist salutes: Does it matter anymore?], Mordechai Sones, ''Israel National News''. Aug 19, 2018 and extensive comments by [[Swedish]] [[scholar]] [[Per Anders Rudling]].</ref>]] | ||
| + | Ukrainian security services combine the structure and methods of both the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[Nazi Germany]], and in recent years has adopted [[NATO]] advisors, training, and tactics. | ||
| + | [[File:Mark Miller creates YouTube playlist to celebrate the authoritarian traditions of a NATO trained army.PNG|right|300px|thumb|The [[NATO]]-trained Armed Forces of Ukraine still march in the traditional Soviet style with their heads turned to pay homage to the [[Stalin|Great Leader]] atop the [[Kremlin]],<ref>https://youtu.be/gQ3Y4cXnC2s?t=243</ref> as does the [[North Korea]]n Army.<ref>https://youtu.be/3rlV5Pk-Hog?t=3774</ref> "[[Stalinist]] traditions are hard to weed out of the [[EU]]’s favorite '[[democracy]]'."<ref>https://magyarnemzet.hu/english/2025/07/what-brutal-forced-conscription-really-looks-like-in-ukraine</ref>]] | ||
Security forces are controlled by the president, although they are subject to investigation by a permanent parliamentary commission. Surveillance is permitted for reasons of national security. | Security forces are controlled by the president, although they are subject to investigation by a permanent parliamentary commission. Surveillance is permitted for reasons of national security. | ||
| − | After | + | In addition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) under the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior has its own armed forces which consists of the Security Service of Ukraine ([[Ukrainian Gestapo]]), which oversee the National Guard of which the [[Azov Battalion]] is only one such neo-Nazi entity, and the [[Territorial Defense]] consisting of ordinary citizens and various local neo-Nazi thugs and hooligans. |
| + | |||
| + | After 1991, Ukraine established its own military forces of about 780,000 from the troops and equipment inherited from the Soviet Union. Under defense reform legislation passed in 2004, Ukraine is strengthening civilian control of the military, professionalizing its non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps, adding neo-Nazi paramilitary groups to the national guard, modernizing force structure to improve interoperability with NATO, all with an eye toward achieving NATO standards. Current force levels are approximately 225,000 (plus 90,000 civilian workers in the Ministry of Defense). The Ministry of Defense plans to continue force reductions by approximately 20,000 personnel per year to reach a final end state of 143,000 by 2011. Ukraine's stated national policy is Euro-Atlantic integration, including with both NATO and the European Union. NATO offered Ukraine an "Intensified Dialogue on Membership Issues" in April 2005. Ukraine had previously signed an agreement with NATO on using Ukraine's strategic airlift capabilities and has been an active participant in Partnership for Peace exercises, in Balkans peacekeeping, and Coalition operations in Iraq. Ukrainian units have been serving in the U.S. sector in he illegal [[Kosovo]] invasion, and served in the Polish-led division in Iraq. Ukraine participated in six United Nations peacekeeping missions and has up to 50 troops serving in supporting roles in Iraq. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 2018, ''Israeli National News'' reported that the World War II Nazi collaborator greeting became the official Ukraine army salute, "[[Slava Ukraine]]!" (''Cyr:'' СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ; ''Eng:'' Glory to Ukraine!)" These words and greeting became Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) official military greeting.<ref>https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/250641</ref> While the Ukrainian fascist salute glorifies a single national identity group<ref>https://www.dw.com/en/new-glory-to-ukraine-army-chant-invokes-nationalist-past/a-45215538</ref> - Ukraine - the Russian response is "Glory to the Heroes", or all the heroes of whichever national identity group contributed to the defeat of fascism and Nazism in World War II. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Biological weapons research labs=== | ||
| + | {{See also|U.S. funded biological labs abroad}} | ||
| + | [[File:Biological research labs.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Russian military reported it had identified 30 sites where biological research with pathogens had been occurring under the direction of the [[Pentagon]]; [[Victoria Nuland]] later confirmed 46 locations.<ref>[https://youtu.be/ydSf57SRtcQ Ukraine Has Biological Research Facilities, Concerned Russian Forces May Seek To Gain Control: US], Mar 11, 2022.</ref>]] | ||
| + | Ukraine has no control over the military bio-laboratories on its own territory. According to the 2005 Agreement between the US DoD and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine the Ukrainian government is prohibited from public disclosure of sensitive information about the US program and Ukraine is obliged to transfer to the US Department of Defense (DoD) dangerous [[pathogen]]s for biological research.<ref>https://2001-2009.state.gov/documents/organization/95251.pdf</ref> The Pentagon has been granted access to certain state secrets<ref>Likely the identities of US contacts and counterparts in the Ukranian government with knowledge of the arrangements and authority to act in a given situation.</ref> of Ukraine in connection with the projects under their agreement. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Only three laboratories in Ukraine had the required safety criteria to undertake the type of research they were doing, according to the Russian military. Captured Ukrainian government documents point to a series of problems at one of those sites in Odessa. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Radioactive, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces, accused the Kyiv regime of carrying out “inhumane experiments” on Ukrainian patients and of launching a biological attack against the Lugansk Peoples Republic in early May 2022. Other evidence suggests that when Russia moved soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022, attempts were made to weaponize drones to spread pathogens and to destroy compromising materials. In response to the revelations by [[Russian Investigative Committee]], the Pentagon fessed up in June 2022 to funding 46 biological research facilities in Ukraine over the last 20 years.<ref>https://greatgameindia.com/pentagon-admits-biolabs-ukraine/</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Two years before the war started, [[CGTN]] discussed US biolabs around the world.<ref>https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-11/Biolabs-around-the-world-QpgMAnwV0I/index.html</ref><ref>https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-16/Time-to-reveal-what-s-going-on-in-U-S-biolabs-QwpxrRTI7C/index.html</ref><ref>https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-21/U-S-deployed-over-200-military-biological-laboratories-worldwide-QFtLkqhuVy/index.html</ref><ref>https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-04-30/The-U-S-needs-to-open-up-about-its-biological-labs-in-the-former-USSR-Q6ud6hO84E/index.html</ref><ref>https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-11/Do-U-S-biolabs-hold-up-to-scrutiny--Qp3jQrmvoQ/index.html</ref><ref>https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-06-11/Global-netizens-reveal-growing-list-of-U-S-bio-security-labs-ReT49fqZEs/index.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====DTRA==== | ||
| + | The DoD Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has funded 11 bio-laboratories in Ukraine. The official documents confirm that the Pentagon, represented by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), is organising work with a clear military-biological focus. | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘚𝘈… 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘚 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 … 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘚 𝘣𝘪𝘰-𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺-𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘜𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦. | ||
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| + | 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘒𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘰𝘷, 𝘒𝘪𝘦𝘷 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰-𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘴, 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴.. 𝘐𝘯 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 2017, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬-𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. | ||
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| + | 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 1997, 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘳𝘮𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 (𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥). 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘚 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘜𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴.. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘹 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘚 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯-𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢.}} | ||
| + | [[File:Obama biolabs.PNG|right|300px|thumb|On August 29, 2005, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Pentagon signed the "Treaty on Countering the Threat of Bioterrorism and Preventing the Spread of Bacteriological Weapons, Technology, Materials and Knowledge."<ref>https://archive.is/Ao20N</ref>]] | ||
| + | One of the Pentagon laboratories is located in Kharkiv, where in January 2016 at least 20 Ukrainian soldiers died from Flu-like virus in just two days with 200 more being hospitalized.<ref>https://dninews.com/article/deadly-virus-leaked-us-laboratory-donbass-dpr-army-and-intelligence</ref> The Ukrainian government did not report on the dead Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv. As of March 2016, 364 deaths have been reported across Ukraine (81.3% caused by Swine Flu A (H1N1) pdm09 – the same strain which caused the world pandemic in 2009).<ref>http://old.moz.gov.ua/ua/portal/pre_20160311_0.html</ref> | ||
| + | [[File:DTRA contractors in Ukraine.png|left|250px|thumb|Metabiota, a company financed by Hunter Biden's Rosemont Seneca partnership with the [[CCP]], receives the lion's share of Defense Department funding for its Ukrainian bio labs.<ref>https://archive.fo/fVtcf</ref>]] | ||
| + | A highly suspicious Hepatitis A infection spread rapidly in just few months across South East Ukraine where most of the Pentagon biolabs are located. 37 people were hospitalized for Hepatitis A in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv as of January 2018.<ref>https://www.segodnya.ua/regions/others/vspyshkoy-gepatita-v-nikolaeve-zainteresovalas-policiya-1103357.html</ref> Local police launched an investigation into “infection with human immunodeficiency virus and other incurable diseases”. In addition, in 2016 more than 100 people in the same city became infected with [[Cholera]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K47S1DarhTE</ref> Both diseases are alleged to have spread through contaminated drinking water. In the summer of 2017, 60 people with Hepatitis A were admitted to hospital in the city of Zaporizhia,<ref>https://www.segodnya.ua/regions/others/vspyshkoy-gepatita-v-nikolaeve-zainteresovalas-policiya-1103357.html</ref> the cause of this outbreak is still unknown. In the Odessa region, 19 children from an orphanage were hospitalized for hepatitis A in June 2017.<ref>https://archive.fo/wip/YOvCU</ref> 29 cases of Hepatitis A were reported in Kharkiv in November 2017. The virus was isolated in contaminated drinking water. One of the Pentagon bio-labs is located in Kharkiv which was blamed for the deadly Flu outbreak in 2018 which claimed the lives of 364 Ukrainians. | ||
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| + | In 2011 Ukraine was hit by a cholera outbreak.<ref>https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/area-in-ukraine-hit-by-cholera-outbreak-109266.html</ref> 33 patients were reportedly hospitalized for severe diarrhea.<ref>https://archive.fo/wip/10smv</ref> A second outbreak struck the country in 2014 when more than 800 people all across Ukraine were reported to have contracted the disease.<ref>https://youtu.be/K47S1DarhTE</ref> | ||
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| + | In 2015 at least 100 new cases were registered in the city of Mykolaiv alone. A new highly virulent variant of the cholera agent Vibrio cholera, with a high genetic similarity to the strains reported in Ukraine, hit Moscow in 2014. According to a 2014 Russian Research Anti-Plaque Institute genetic study the cholera strain isolated in Moscow was similar to the bacteria which caused the epidemic in neighboring Ukraine.<ref>http://genomea.asm.org/content/5/8/e01640-16.full</ref> Southern Research Institute, one of the US contractors working at the bio-laboratories in Ukraine, has projects on Cholera, as well as on Influenza and Zika – all pathogens of military importance to the Pentagon. | ||
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| + | A now deleted article originally posted on June 18, 2020, which has been recovered<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110522081423/http://www.bioprepwatch.com/news/213421-biolab-opens-in-ukraine</ref><ref>https://sharylattkisson.com/2022/03/list-of-ukraine-biolab-documents-reportedly-removed-by-us-embassy/</ref> entitled ''Biolab Opens in Ukraine'' details how [[Barack Obama]], while serving as an Illinois Senator, helped [[negotiate]] a deal to build a level-3 bio-safety lab in the Ukrainian city of Odessa.<ref>https://thenationalpulse.com/2022/03/08/obama-led-ukraine-biolab-efforts/</ref> | ||
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| + | [[Metabiota]], a company financed by [[Hunter Biden]]'s [[Rosemont Seneca]] partnership with the [[Communist Party of China]] and the [[Peoples Republic of China]]'s [[Peoples Liberation Army]], was awarded a $18.4 million federal contract under the DTRA program in Georgia and Ukraine.<ref>https://govtribe.com/contract/award/hdtra114c0104</ref><ref>https://freedomjournalist.com/how-much-did-the-bidens-make-in-the-ukraine-biolabs/</ref> | ||
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| + | ===Ukrainian Science and Technology Centre=== | ||
| + | Among the set of bilateral agreements between the US and Ukraine is the establishment of the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) – an International organization funded mainly by the US government which has been accorded diplomatic status. The US personnel in Ukraine work under diplomatic cover. The STCU officially supports projects of scientists previously involved in the Soviet biological weapons program. Over the past 20 years the STCU has invested over $285 million in funding and managing some 1,850 projects of scientists who previously worked on the development of weapons of mass destruction. | ||
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| + | According to captured documents by the Russian Ministry of Defense,<ref>https://telegra.ph/Briefing-on-the-results-of-the-analysis-of-documents-related-to-the-military-biological-activities-of-the-United-States-on-the-t-04-14</ref> the Ukrainian Science and Technology Centre (STCU), | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|"is headquartered in Kiev and has regional offices in [[Baku]], Chisinau and [[Tbilisi]], as well as in Kharkov and Lvov. | ||
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| + | However, the Russian Ministry of Defence's Chemical and Biological Threat Expertise Centre found that the STCU's main activity is to act as a distribution centre for grants for research of interest to the Pentagon, including biological weapons research. | ||
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| + | In recent years alone, Washington has spent more than $350 million on STCU projects. | ||
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| + | The U.S. customers and sponsors of STCU are the [[Department of State]] and the [[Department of Defense]]. Funding is also provided through the [[Environmental Protection Agency]], the [[Department of Agriculture|US Departments of Agriculture]], [[HHS|Health]] and [[DOE|Energy]].... | ||
| + | |||
| + | Between 2014 and 2022, the Ukrainian Science and Technology Centre implemented five hundred R&D projects in post-Soviet countries (Ukraine, Georgia, [[Moldova]] and [[Azerbaijan]]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | US supervisors were primarily interested in dual-use research, such as project 6166, Development of Technologies for Modelling, Evaluation and Prediction of Effects of Conflicts and Threats of Mass Destruction Weapons Spread, and project 9601, Transfer of Ukrainian Technologies for the Production of Complex Dual-Use Materials to the European Union. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Many of them are aimed at studying potential biological weapons agents (plague, tularaemia) and pathogens of economic importance (pathogenic avian influenza, African swine fever). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Projects P-364, 444, and 781, aimed at studying the spread of dangerous pathogens through insect vectors, wild birds, and bats, were funded by the Centre directly in the interests of the military department. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note the documents of Project 3007 "Monitoring of the epidemiological and environmental situation regarding hazardous diseases of aquatic origin in Ukraine". | ||
| + | |||
| + | During the work, Ukrainian specialists, supervised by American scientists, systematically collected water samples in a number of major Ukrainian rivers, including the Dnepr, [[Danube]] and Dniester, as well as in the North Crimean Canal, to determine the presence of particularly dangerous pathogens, including cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E pathogens, and draw conclusions about their possible waterborne spread. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The project assessed the damage properties of the selected samples and deposited the strains in a collection and subsequently exported them to the USA. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ...the results of this work can be used to create an unfavourable biological situation not only in the Russian Federation, but also in the Black Sea and the [[Sea of Azov]], as well as in [[Eastern Europe]] - [[Belarus]], Moldova and [[Poland]].... | ||
| + | |||
| + | Thus, during the special operation in Ukraine, it was established that US scientists from a laboratory in Merefa (Kharkov Region) were testing potentially dangerous biological drugs on patients of the regional clinical [[psychiatric]] hospital No 3 in Kharkov between 2019 and 2021. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Persons with mental disorders were selected for the experiments on the basis of their age, nationality and immune status. Special forms were used to record the results of 24-hour patient monitoring. The information was not entered into the hospital database and the staff of the medical institution signed a non-disclosure agreement. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In January 2022, the laboratory in Merefa was shut down and all equipment and preparations were moved to western Ukraine."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUO-bDDGZcg</ref>}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Nuclear fuel and waste=== | ||
| + | As of 2022 Ukraine holds a large amount of spent nuclear fuel that has not been removed from the territory of Ukraine since 2020 and that has been stored on the territory of nuclear power plants awaiting the construction of a nuclear fuel storage facility in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. In addition, the Kyiv regime had accumulated 30 tons of plutonium and 40 tons of enriched uranium at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Neo-Nazi groups=== | ||
| + | ''The Postil'' reported that in 2007, the [[CIA]] put together a “conference” of various anti-Russian factions in Ukraine whose purpose was nothing other than to groom neo-Nazis and [[jihad]]ists, both groups being solidly [[anti-Russian]]. Overseeing the conference was [[Dmytro Yarosh]], who led the Trident and the [[Pravy Sektor]], both neo-Nazi organizations.<ref>https://www.thepostil.com/the-nazis-of-ukraine/</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | These various neo-Nazi units, trained by [[the West]], were integrated into the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). After 2014 Maidan coup, the West actively protected these neo-Nazi groups. Victoria Nuland, in 2021, told Volodymyr Zelensky to appoint Dmytro Yarosh as adviser to the [[Commander-in-Chief]] of the Ukrainian army—because no one can fight Russians better than Nazis. Here are the larger units of neo-Nazis, or Banderites which fought Russians in Ukraine: | ||
| + | [[File:Kraken nazis.png|right|350px|thumb|Photo of football hooligans squad of the neo-Nazi [[Kraken unit|Kraken regiment]] of the [[Maidan regime|Ukraine regime forces]]: KCP ([[Kharkiv]]), Bratiya (Kryvbas), Brave Brigade (Dynamo) and Dnipro.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineCrisis2022/comments/y99cg5/photo_of_football_hooligans_squad_of_neonazi/ Photo of Football Hooligans squad of neoNazi Kraken regiment of Ukraine regime forces: KCP (Kharkiv), Bratiya (Kryvbas), Brave Brigade (Dynamo) and Dnipro], October 2022. reddit.</ref>]] | ||
| + | *Members of Svoboda (formerly the “Nation-Social Party of Ukraine,” which curiously rhymes with Hitler's “National-Socialist German Workers Party”) | ||
| + | *The AZOV Battalion (based in Mariupol) | ||
| + | *C14 of Kyiv | ||
| + | *The [[Aidar Battalion]] (in Luhansk) | ||
| + | *The Wotanjugend (who are actually Russian in origin) | ||
| + | *Ukraine Patriot (co-founded by Parliament Speaker [[Andriy Parubiy]]) | ||
| + | *The National Militia | ||
| + | *[[Karpatska Sich]] | ||
| + | *Freikorps | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are also many other smaller units (more than 30) that have merged with the larger ones, and all have been integrated into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And the various symbols of these organizations are common-place in Ukraine (i.e., the Sonnenrad, the Totenkopf, the Wolfsangel). After 2014, Ukraine also became the main “exporter” of Nazi ideology throughout the world. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Fighting alongside the neo-Nazis and the Ukrainian army are a slew of jihadis and mercenaries, many of whom are from other Western neo-Nazi groups like the Misanthropic Division. These mercenaries are known as the International Legion of [[Territorial Defense]] of Ukraine. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Anchor|Euromaidanpress}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===US/Ukrainian intelligence collaboration=== | ||
| + | Within the NATO bloc, the Cyber Defense Systems Development Fund and the Armed Forces of Ukraine Command, Control and Communications Systems Modernization Fund were among the trust funds established to assist Ukraine in 2014. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to information announced in April 2017 by the head of the [[Security Service of Ukraine]] (SBU), [[Vasyl Hrytsak]], the first stage of cooperation with the Ukraine-NATO Trust Fund in the field of cyber defense included a total of one million euros, which was used to purchase equipment and software to equip computer incident response centers of key Ukrainian state institutions, in particular, the Situation Center of the SBU and the Cyber Incident Response Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.<ref>https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/433693.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Anchor|InformNapalm}} | ||
| + | ====2016 US presidential election interference==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Not Russia, but Ukraine interfered in the [[2016 United States presidential election]]. The purpose was twofold: (1) rig the 2016 election for Hillary Clinton; (2) a negative propaganda campaign against Russia to turn the American people against the Russian Federation and perceive it as a threat. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Surkov-leaks-with-Crowdstrike-390x400.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Although this profile says Virginia, tweets are from the Sofia, Bulgaria time zone and he writes in Russian. Another curiosity considering the Fancy Bear source code is in Russian. This image shows Crowdstrike in their network. Crowdstrike is part of Ukrainian nationalist hacker network. In the image it shows a network diagram of Crowdstrike following the Surkov leaks. The network communication goes through a secondary source.]] | ||
| + | Dimitri Alperovitch's relationship with Andrea Chalupa's efforts and Ukrainian intelligence groups is where things really heat up. [[Alexandra Chalupa]] works with '''[[Euromaidanpress.com]]''' and '''Informnapalm.org''' which is the outlet for Ukrainian state-sponsored hackers. InformNapalm and Censor.net are media outlet that are controlled by the Ministry of Defense and Main Intelligence Department.<ref>https://archive.is/wip/Z55EP</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Investigating Dimitri Alperovitch's twitter relationships, the question arises as to why the CEO of a $150 million company like Crowdstrike follows Ukrainian InformNapalm and its hackers individually. There is a mutual relationship. When you add up his work for the OUNb, Ukraine, support for Ukraine's Intelligence, and to the hackers it needs to be investigated to see if Ukraine is conspiring against the US government. Crowdstrike is also following their hack of a Russian government official after the DNC hack. It closely resembles the same method used with the DNC because it was an email hack. | ||
| + | [[File:Gerashchenko.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Deputy Gestapo head Anton Gerashchenko is one of the Zelensky regime's chief Nazi propagandists.]] | ||
| + | Crowdstrike's product line includes Falcon Host, Falcon Intelligence, Falcon Overwatch and Falcon DNS. In an interview with Euromaidanpress these hackers say they have no need for the CIA.<ref>http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/11/02/ukraine-hackers-cyberhunta-surkov-putin-ruh8-cyberalliance/</ref> They consider the CIA amateurish. They also say they are not part of the Ukrainian military Cyberalliance is a quasi-organization with the participation of several groups – RUH8, Trinity, Falcon Flames, Cyberhunta. There are structures affiliated to the hackers – the [[Myrotvorets]] site, Informnapalm analytical agency.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Osint-image-and-tweet-400x117.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Although OSINT Academy sounds fairly innocuous, it’s the official twitter account for Ukraine’s Ministry of Information head Dimitri Zolotukin. It is also Ukrainian Intelligence. The Ministry of Information started the Peacekeeper or [[Myrotvorets]] website that geolocates journalists and other people for assassination. If you disagree with OUNb politics, you could be on the list.]] | ||
| + | Should someone tell Dimitri Alperovitch that [[Anton Gerashchenko]], who is now in charge of the [[Peacekeeper kill list]] recently threatened president-elect Donald Trump that he would put him on his “Peacemaker” site as a target? The same has been done with [[Silvio Berlusconi]] in 2015. | ||
| + | Trying not to be obvious, the Head of Ukraine's Information Ministry (UA Intelligence) tweeted something interesting that ties Alperovitch and Crowdstrike to the Ukrainian Intelligence hackers and the Information Ministry even tighter. This single tweet on a network chart shows that out of all the Ukrainian Ministry of Information Minister's following, he only wanted the 3 hacking groups associated with both him and Alperovitch to get the tweet. Alperovitch's story was received and not retweeted or shared. If this was just Alperovitch's victory, it was a victory for Ukraine. It would be shared heavily. If it was a victory for the hacking squad, it would be smart to keep it to themselves and not draw unwanted attention. | ||
| + | These same hackers are associated with Alexandra, Andrea, and Irene Chalupa through the portals and organizations they work with through their OUNb. The hackers are funded and directed by or through the same OUNb channels that Alperovitch is working for and with to promote the story of Russian hacking. | ||
| − | + | When you look at the image for the hacking group in the euromaidanpress article, one of the hackers identifies themselves as one of [[Dimitri Yarosh]]'s Pravy Sektor members by the Pravy Sektor sweatshirt they have on. Noted above, [[Pravy Sektor]] admitted to killing the '[[Heavenly Hundred]]' at the Maidan protest and sparked the coup. | |
| − | + | [[File:Ukrainian Nazis.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Ukrainian nazi flag.<ref>https://eurasiantimes.com/ukraine-uses-pig-fat-bullets-to-counter-russian-aggression/</ref>]] | |
| + | Going further with the linked Euromaidanpress article the hackers say "Let’s understand that Ukrainian hackers and Russian hackers once constituted a single very powerful group. Ukrainian hackers have a rather high level of work. So the help of the USA… I don’t know, why would we need it? We have all the talent and special means for this. And I don’t think that the USA or any NATO country would make such sharp movements in international politics.” | ||
| − | + | What sharp movements in international politics have been made lately? Let me spell it out for the 17 US Intelligence Agencies so there is no confusion. These state sponsored, Russian language hackers in [[Eastern Europe]]an time zones have shown with the Surkov hack they have the tools and experience to hack states that are looking out for it. They are also laughing at US intel efforts. | |
| − | + | The hackers also made it clear that they will do anything to serve Ukraine. Starting a war between Russia and the USA is the one way they could serve Ukraine best, and hurt Russia worst. Given those facts, if the [[DNC]] hack was according to the criteria given by Alperovitch, both he and these hackers need to be investigated. | |
| − | ==Economy== | + | According to the ''Esquire'' interview “Alperovitch was deeply frustrated: He thought the government should tell the world what it knew. There is, of course, an element of the personal in his battle cry. “A lot of people who are born here don’t appreciate the freedoms we have, the opportunities we have, because they’ve never had it any other way,” he told me. “I have.” |
| + | |||
| + | While I agree patriotism is a great thing, confusing it with this kind of nationalism is not. '''Alperovitch seems to think by serving [[OUNb]] Ukraine's interests and delivering a conflict with Russia that is against American interests, he's a patriot. He isn't serving US interests. He's definitely a Ukrainian patriot.''' Maybe he should move to Ukraine. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The evidence presented deserves investigation because it looks like the case for [[conflict of interest]] is the least Dimitri Alperovitch should look forward to. If these hackers are the real Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear, they really did make sharp movements in international politics. By pawning it off on Russia, they made a worldwide embarrassment of an outgoing President of the United States and made the President Elect the suspect of rumor. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR)==== | ||
| + | [[File:Budanov.PNG|right|300px|thumb|[[Kyrylo Budanov]].<ref>https://kurtnimmo.substack.com/p/ukraines-intelligence-boss-predicts</ref> By May 2023, this person was considered to be the top Nazi on the Russian Investigative Committees' most wanted list for terrorist activities.]] | ||
| + | Russian hacker group RAHDit leaked data of 2500 officers of the [[Main Intelligence Directorate]] (GUR) of the military department of Ukraine in July 2022. The hacker group revealed that the released information includes data about the relatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and people who received payments from GUR bank accounts. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The hackers claimed that the GUR officers include alleged [[drug addict]]s and former [[criminal]]s convicted of robbery, the illegal trafficking of [[weapon]]s and [[drug]]s as well as causing bodily injuries. They further revealed that they have given the information regarding the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) to [[law enforcement]] agencies. RAHDit said it was not intending to publish information related to underage relatives of Ukrainian officers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | RaHDIt leaked the personal information of more than 1500 employees of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Ukraine. An anonymous law enforcement source has "confirmed the authenticity" of the information released on the hacker group's website Nemezide (Nemesis) on September 26, 2022.<ref>https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/russia-ukraine-crisis/russian-hackers-release-data-of-over-1500-ukrainian-foreign-intelligence-service-agents-articleshow.html</ref> The information is related to Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) agents working under the cover of embassies in over 20 nations. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The information includes people working under the cover of embassies in France, [[Argentina]], Germany, [[Italy]], US, Poland, [[Azerbaijan]], [[Hungary]], [[Tajikistan]], [[South Africa]], [[Greece]], [[Iraq]], and other nations. Furthermore, RaHDIt hackers released information on Ukrainian SVR agents working in the missions of the United Nations, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and 40 Ukrainian SVR locations within Ukraine, including one at an educational establishment. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====War planning==== | ||
| + | Following the [[2014 Maidan coup]], [[NATO]] spent eight years preparing the [[Ukro-Nazi]]s for war on [[Russia]]. That prep consisted, in part, with the building of heavy reinforced concrete fortifications in the [[Donbass]], piggybacking on the existing [[Soviet]]-era heavy industrial and mining sites and cities with their deep tunnels—natural fortresses that were almost impregnable to standard heavy [[artillery]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Russian forces made slow progress against these fortifications, although the use of heavy [[glide bomb]]s proved far more effective than artillery. Still, it was a slow process, given that each of these heavy glide bombs had to be launched from aircraft—which exposed them, to varying extents, to NATO anti-aircraft defenses. This allowed the gradual reduction of the heaviest fortifications, built using the existing industrial and mining facilities. However, the remaining defensive fortifications, purpose built, remained, and it is these that Russian forces began breaking through. That led to a new [[tactic]]—the use of “heavy” [[drone]]s to precisely target strong points. Heavy FPV drones like the “Upyr-18” changed that. These powerful platforms deliver precise, high-explosive strikes directly into enemy fortifications, dismantling strongpoints and enabling safer advances. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Foreign Relations== | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Austin Milley Ukraine.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The Biden regime defaced the Ukrainian flag.<ref>https://olxpraca.com/the-pentagon-defaced-the-ukrainian-flag/</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/busnitized/status/1529061445631193088</ref><ref>https://hiindia.com/2022/05/24/pentagon-messes-up-ukrainian-flag/</ref>]] | ||
| + | The government has declared Euro-Atlantic integration to be its primary foreign policy objective and has sought to maintain good relations with Russia. The European Union's Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Ukraine went into force on March 1, 1998. After the 2004 round of EU expansion, the EU did not signal a willingness to consider Ukraine for an association agreement, as Ukraine had hoped for, but instead included it in a new "neighbor" policy, disappointing many Ukrainians. An agreement on intensified cooperation is possible after Ukrainian WTO accession. On January 31, 1992, Ukraine joined the then-Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe—OSCE), and on March 10, 1992, it became a member of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Ukraine signed a Charter Agreement with NATO in 1997, sent troops to Kosovo in close cooperation with NATO countries, signed an agreement for NATO use of Ukrainian strategic airlift assets, and has declared interest in eventual membership. It is the most active member of the Partnership for Peace (PfP). In April 2005, NATO offered an "Intensified Dialogue on Membership Issues" to Ukraine. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <!--Ukraine maintains peaceful and constructive relations with all its neighbors, though there are some unresolved maritime issues along the Danube and in the Black Sea with Romania; it has especially close ties with Poland and Russia.--> | ||
| + | [[File:President Trump and Zelenskyy.jpg|left|300px|thumbnail|President Trump and President Zelensky before the 2024 election.]] | ||
| + | Relations with Russia are complicated by differing foreign policy priorities in the region, energy dependence, payment arrears, disagreement over compliance with the 1997 agreement on the stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in [[Sevastopol]], and a dispute over bilateral boundaries in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Ukraine co-founded the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on December 8, 1991, but in January 1993 it refused to endorse a draft charter strengthening political, economic, and defense ties among CIS members. Ukraine was a founding member of GUAM (Georgia-Ukraine-Azerbaijan-Moldova) and has taken the lead with Georgia to promote cooperation among emerging democracies in the Community for Democratic Choice, which held its first summit meeting December 1–2, 2005 in Kyiv. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1999–2001, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations in 1945 as one of the original members following a Western compromise with the Soviet Union, which had asked for seats for all 15 of its union republics. Ukraine has consistently supported peaceful, negotiated settlements to disputes. It has participated in the five-sided (now "5+2") talks on the conflict in Moldova and under President Yushchenko actively boosted efforts to seek a resolution. Ukraine has also promoted a peaceful resolution to conflict in the post-Soviet state of Georgia<!-- and has advocated a return to democracy in neighboring Belarus. Ukraine has also made a substantial contribution to UN peacekeeping operations since 1992-->. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to Western sources, a major issue for NATO discussions is the roughly 20,000 confirmed cases of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russian forces.{{fact}} According to Donald Trump, the issue "is a subject at the top of all lists." First lady Melania Trump had a letter hand-delivered to Putin saying it is time to restore children's "dream of love, possibility and safety from danger."<ref>McFall, C. (2025, August 20). "[https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraines-stolen-children-crisis-looms-large-nato-meets-russias-war Ukraine's Stolen Children Crisis Looms Large as NATO Meets on Russia's War.]" ''FOX News.''</ref> The alleged kidnappings resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for Vladimir Putin by the [[International Criminal Court]] which the [[United States]] does not recognized the jurisdiction of and has [[economic sanctions|sanctioned]].<ref>Terozzi, T.H.J. (2023, March 17). "[https://www.foxnews.com/world/international-criminal-court-issues-putin-arrest-warrant-child-deportations-ukraine International Criminal Court Issues Putin Arrest Warrant Over Child Deportations From Ukraine.]" ''FOX News.''</ref> The testimony before the [[UN Security Council]] of Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who was also named in the bogus indictment, was [[veto]]ed by the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>[https://youtu.be/sT379IrMb2Q Video of Maria Lvova-Belova testifying at the UN (blocked by the UK)]</ref> | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | ===European Union Conservatives=== | ||
| + | [[File:Zelensky & Meloni.jpg|250px|thumbnail]] | ||
| + | The [[European Union]] [[Conservative]] [[ECR Party]], leaded by [[Giorgia Meloni]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://decode39.com/9021/ukraine-meloni-european-agenda-candidature-election/|title=Ukraine at the centre of Meloni’s European agenda|date=April 29, 2024|publisher=Decode 39}}</ref> supports Ukraine, including the [[Vox (Spain)|Vox Party]] from Spain, [[Law and Justice Party]] from Poland and [[Brothers of Italy]] from Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://longbrief.com/giorgia-meloni-the-key-to-collaboration-between-the-ecr-and-the-epp/|title=GIORGIA MELONI: THE KEY TO COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ECR AND THE EPP?|date=June 6, 2024|publisher=The Long Brief}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Relations with Russia=== | ||
| + | While Russia officially seeks the "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine, the [[Zelensky Regime]] is inadvertently achieving these goals on Russia's behalf. | ||
| + | |||
| + | From the [[Kremlin]]'s perspective, there is no [[strategic]] incentive to decapitate the regime and eliminate [[Volodymyr Zelensky]]. His policies, driven by the need to satisfy [[Western alliance|Western]] demands for [[total war]], have resulted in the systematic dismantling of the Ukrainian [[state]]. The massive [[demographic]] depletion, the destruction of critical [[infrastructure]], the flight of millions of citizens, and the [[economic]] devastation are all outcomes that align with long-term Russian objectives of neutralizing Ukraine as a viable, independent threat on its border. Russia recognizes that Zelensky, in his desperate bid to remain useful to [[the West]], is actively destroying his own country's future. Eliminating him would risk replacing him with someone more competent, more unifying, or better able to [[negotiate]] a [[peace]] that preserves Ukrainian statehood. As long as the current leadership continues to bleed the country dry in a [[war]] it cannot win, [[Moscow]] views him as a [[strategic]] [[asset]], albeit an unwitting one. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Minsk II Agreement=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Normandy Group comprised of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany negotiated a settlement regarding the autonomy of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk with the Minsk II Agreement, freely signed by Ukraine and approved by the United Nations in 2015. When the Biden regime seized power in 2021, it enticed Ukraine to break the agreement by offering Ukraine NATO membership, igniting a crisis with Russia. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Relations with Belarus=== | ||
| + | On March 1, 2022, the [[Zelensky regime]] threatened [[Belarus]] with a pre-emptive strike.<ref>https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Ukraine-Threatens-Belarus-to-Launch-Preemptive-Attack-20220301-0010.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | On March 15, 2022, Belarus was hit with an organized [[sabotage]] campaign aimed at railroad lines carrying Russian troops and humanitarian supplies into Ukraine.<ref>https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-699184</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | On October 14, 2022, Belarus went on high alert against a [[NATO]] terror attack.<ref>https://youtu.be/NFwID2qF3HY</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | On October 17, 2022, the Belarus defense ministry issued a statement saying it reserved the right for preemptive strategic deterrence measures.<ref>https://tass.com/world/1523983</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Relations with the United States=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Ukranian collusion with DNC to interfere in US elections==== | ||
| + | {{See also|Ukrainian collusion timeline}} | ||
| + | Evidence of [[DNC]] collusion with Ukraine to dig up dirt on the 2016 Trump campaign: | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|From: Chalupa, Ali<br> | ||
| + | Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 11:56 PM<br> | ||
| + | To: Miranda, Luis<br> | ||
| + | Subject: Re: You saw this, right?<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | A lot more coming down the pipe. I spoke to a delegation of 68 investigative journalists from Ukraine last Wednesday at the Library of Congress - the Open World Society's forum - they put me on the program to speak specifically about [[Paul Manafort]] and I invited [[Michael Isikoff]] whom I've been working with for the past few weeks and connected him to the Ukrainians. More offline tomorrow since there is a big Trump component you and Lauren need to be aware of that will hit in next few weeks and something I'm working on you should be aware of.<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Since I started digging into Manafort these messages have been a daily occurrence on my yahoo account despite changing my password often:<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | [image1.JPG]<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sent from my iPhone<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | On May 3, 2016, at 10:50 PM, Miranda, Luis <MirandaL@dnc.org<mailto:MirandaL@dnc.org>> wrote:<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | http://www.politifact.com/global-news/article/2016/may/02/paul-manafort-donald-trumps-top-adviser-and-his-ti/<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <http://www.democrats.org/>[SigDems]<http://www.democrats.org/><http://www.democrats.org/>Luis Miranda, Communications Director<br> | ||
| + | Democratic National Committee<br> | ||
| + | 202-863-8148 - MirandaL@dnc.org<mailto:MirandaL@dnc.org> - @MiraLuisDC<https://www.twitter.com/MiraLuisDC><ref>https://wikileaks.org/dnc-emails/emailid/3962</ref>}} | ||
| + | According to the ''Kyiv Post'', | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|“Chalupa said she first came across Manafort after she organized a meeting with then-U.S. President Barack Obama’s [[National Security Council]] and leaders of Ukrainian-American organizations in January 2014, to brief the [[White House]] about the [[Euromaidan Revolution]] that drove President Viktor Yanukovych from power on Feb. 22, 2014.”}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | In late 2015, [[Alexandra Chalupa]] expanded her research into Paul Manafort to include the Trump campaign and possible ties to Russia. | ||
| + | [[File:Alexandra-chalupa-and-ukraine-embassy-in-the-us.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Alexandra Chalupa, Melanne Verveer, and Congresswoman [[Marcy Kaptur]]’s Ukraine linkages. Chalupa held multiple intelligence briefing and debriefing sessions regarding president Trump with Okana Shulyar and other Ukrainian embassy staff.<ref>https://apelbaum.wordpress.com/2019/09/29/how-to-finance-your-congressional-campaign-with-arms-sales/</ref>]] | ||
| + | In January 2016, Chalupa informed an unknown senior [[DNC]] official that she believed there was a Russian connection with the Trump campaign. Notably, this theme would be picked up by the [[2016 Clinton campaign|Clinton campaign]] in the summer of 2016. Chalupa also told the official to expect Manafort's involvement in the Trump campaign. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Chalupa’s forecast proved prescient, as Manafort reached out to the Trump campaign shortly after, on Feb. 29, 2016, through a mutual acquaintance, Thomas J. Barrack Jr. According to Manafort, he and Trump hadn’t been in communication for years until the Trump campaign responded to Manafort’s offer. On March 28, 2016, Manafort was hired by the Trump campaign. He was reportedly initially hired to lead the Trump campaign’s delegate effort, but was soon promoted, and on May 19, 2016, Manafort became Trump’s campaign chairman and chief strategist. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Just days prior to Manafort’s hiring, on March 24, 2016, Chalupa spoke with the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Valeriy Chaly, and told him of concerns she had regarding Manafort. Reportedly, her concerns were initially rebuffed as Chaly didn’t think Trump had a real chance of winning the presidency. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to ''Politico'', the day after Manafort’s hiring, Chalupa provided a briefing on “Manafort, Trump and their ties to Russia” to the DNC's communications staff. Notably, “with the DNC’s encouragement,” Chalupa asked the Ukrainian Embassy staff to attempt to arrange an interview with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and have him discuss Manafort's ties to former Ukrainian President Yanukovych. The Ukrainian Embassy reportedly declined the request but, according to Chalupa, did begin working with reporters who were researching Trump. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Andrii Telizhenko]], who worked in the Ukrainian Embassy under one of Chaly's top aides, Oksana Shulyar, has repeatedly stated that Chalupa was working closely with the Ukrainian Embassy to obtain information on Trump.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/09/double-standards-on-ukraine/</ref> In an interview with the Gateway Pundit, Telizhenko said he met Chalupa in the spring of 2016 at the Ukrainian Embassy, where Chalupa told him she was “a DNC operative working for the DNC” and the “Clinton campaign.” Telizhenko continued, noting that Chalupa said she was “collecting any dirt or background information on Manafort, presidential candidate Trump or any other campaign official from the Trump campaign” and was looking for “connections to Russia or the FSB or Russian mob, or Ukrainian mob, etc.” According to Telizhenko, Chalupa said the information would “be used for committee hearings in Congress under a congresswoman.”<ref>Rep. [[Marcy Kaptur]].</ref> Telizhenko didn't disclose the identity of the congresswoman, noting, “I don’t want to mention her name on record.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | In January 2017, Telizhenko told ''Politico'' that Chalupa said, “If we can get enough information on Paul [Manafort] or Trump’s involvement with Russia, she can get a hearing in Congress by September.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | In a recent tweet, Telizhenko summed the situation succinctly, noting | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|“The Clinton campaign had a Democratic operative working with Ukraine’s embassy in Washington to research Trump’s Russia ties, as well as a Ukrainian lawmaker feeding information to Fusion GPS.”}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The “Democratic operative” refers to Chalupa, while the “Ukrainian lawmaker” refers to [[Leshchenko]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Crowdstrike==== | ||
| + | {{See also|Murder of Seth Rich}} | ||
| + | [[File:Trump-convo-with-zelenskyy.jpg |right|350px |thumb |CrowdStrike interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.]] | ||
| + | [[File:Podesta-Emails-600x400.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Clinton campaign manager [[John Podesta]] was notified by [[Google]] that his emails were hacked, not by Russia, but by Ukraine during the 2016 presidential election.<ref>https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/34899</ref>]] | ||
| + | [[CrowdStrike]] is an Irvine, [[California]] cyber security company founded in 2011. Crowdstrike was founded by [[Dimitry Alperovitch]], a [[Ukrainian]] [[oligarch]] and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Another owner and senior manager of Crowdstrike is a former senior [[FBI]] man [[Shawn Henry]], who was promoted by [[Robert Mueller]] to be the FBI's Head of Cyber Security in the 2000s. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Crowdstrike is funded by [[Google]],<ref>https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2017/03/23/what-is-crowdstrike-firm-hired-by-dnc-has-ties-to-hillary-clinton-a-ukrainian-billionaire-and-google/</ref> the arms industry, [[NATO]], the US Military, [[Saudi Arabia]], the [[UAE]], and another Ukrainian oligarch who donated $10 million to the [[Clinton Foundation]] named [[Victor Pinchuk]].<ref>[https://themarketswork.com/2018/03/11/victor-pinchuk-the-clintons-endless-connections/ Victor Pinchuk, the Clintons & Endless Connections], by Jeff Carlson, March 11, 2018.</ref> Pichuk hosted the September 2013 confabulation in [[Yalta]], [[Crimea]] attended by [[Bill Clinton]], [[Hillary Clinton]], and [[Tony Blair]] to discuss how Ukraine's assets would be carved up after the forthcoming [[Ukrainian coup]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Russian hacking claims of DNC servers in the Spring of 2016 rely entirely on a report by CrowdStrike.<ref>https://www.voanews.com/usa/think-tank-cyber-firm-center-russian-hacking-charges-misread-data</ref> Despite repeated requests from the FBI, Crowdstrike and the DNC refused to turn over evidence.<ref>https://slate.com/technology/2017/05/the-fbi-is-harder-to-trust-on-the-dnc-hack-because-it-relied-on-crowdstrikes-analysis.html</ref> The [[Obama administration]] never examined the DNC servers to determine if indeed they were hacked, or attempted to identify who the hacker might have been.<ref>https://consortiumnews.com/2019/06/17/fbi-never-saw-crowdstrike-unredacted-or-final-report-on-alleged-russian-hacking-because-none-was-produced/</ref> On July 25, 2019, [[President Trump]] requested [[President Zelensky]] of Ukraine to assist in recovering evidence from Crowdstrike, which contracts with the Ukrainian military.<ref>https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-mentioned-crowdstrike-to-ukrainian-president-and-crowdstrike-doesnt-seem-to-know-why-2019-09-25</ref> | ||
| + | :*According to journalist and DNC activist Andrea Chalupa on her Facebook page “After Chalupa sent the email to Miranda (which mentions that she had invited this reporter to a meeting with Ukrainian journalists in Washington),<ref>https://wikileaks.org/dnc-emails/emailid/3962</ref> it triggered high-level concerns within the DNC, given the sensitive nature of her work. “That’s when we knew it was the Russians,” said a [[Democratic Party]] source who has been directly involved in the internal probe into the hacked emails. In order to stem the damage, the source said, “we told her to stop her research.”” July 25, 2016 | ||
| + | :*If she was that close to the investigation Crowdstrike did how credible is she? Her sister Alexandra was named one of 16 people that shaped the election by Yahoo news. '''The DNC hacking investigation done by Crowdstrike concluded hacking was done by Russian actors based on the work done by Alexandra Chalupa? That is the conclusion of her sister Andrea Chalupa and obviously enough for Crowdstrike to make the Russian government connection.''' | ||
| + | :*How close is Dimitri Alperovitch to DNC officials? Close enough professionally he should have stepped down from an investigation that had the chance of throwing a presidential election in a new direction. According to Esquire.com, Alperovitch has vetted speeches for Hillary Clinton about cyber security issues in the past. Because of his work on the Sony hack, President Barrack Obama personally called and said the measures taken were directly because of his work. | ||
| + | :*Alperovitch’s relationships with the Chalupas, radical groups, think tanks, Ukrainian propagandists, and Ukrainian state supported hackers [show a conflict of interest]. When it all adds up and you see it together, we have found a Russian that tried hard to influence the outcome of the US presidential election in 2016. | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Fancy Bear is Ukrainian Intelligence==== | ||
| + | [[File:Alperovitch-hacker-friends-400x118 (1).jpg|right|350px|thumb|Dimitry Alperovitch, the founder of Crowdstrike, tweeting with Fancy Bear. Crowdstrike claimed the Russians hacked the DNC. The FBI never verified the claim. Private investigators determined it was Ukrainian intelligence who were hired by Alexandra Chalupa, a member of the Democratic National Committee.]] | ||
| + | George Eliason has identified Fancy Bear as Ukrainian intelligence. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alexandra Chalupa hired this particular hacking terrorist group, which Dimitry Alperovich and Crowdstrike dubbed "[[Fancy Bear]]", in 2015 at the latest. While the Ukrainian hackers worked for the DNC, Fancy Bear had to send in progress reports, turn in research, and communicate on the state of the projects they were working on. Let's face it, once you're in, setting up your Fancy Bear toolkit doesn't get any easier. This is why I said the DNC hack isn't the big crime. It's a big con and all the parties were in on it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Hillary Clinton exposed secrets to hacking threats by using private email instead of secured servers. Given the information provided she was probably being monitored by our intrepid Ruskie-Ukie union made in hell hackers. [[Anthony Weiner]] exposed himself and his wife [[Huma Abedin]] using Weiner's computer for top-secret State Department emails. And of course Huma Abedin exposed herself along with her top-secret passwords at [[Yahoo]] and it looks like the hackers the DNC hired to do opposition research hacked her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Here's a question. Did Huma Abedin have Hillary Clinton's passwords for her private email server? It would seem logical given her position with Clinton at the State Department and afterward. This means that Hillary Clinton and the US government top secret servers were most likely compromised by Fancy Bear before the DNC and Team Clinton hired them by using legitimate passwords. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====2025 Peace talks during the Second Trump term==== | ||
| + | [[File:Ukraine is one of the European countries whose population trusts Donald Trump the most, December 2024.jpg|thumbnail|right|Ukraine is one of the European countries whose population trusts Donald Trump the most, December 2024. President Trump is viewed as a peacemaker.<ref name=44Trump/>]] | ||
| + | [[President Trump]] has declared his will to mediate in the war and achieve peace during his second term. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{cquote|US President-elect Donald Trump, who has frequently claimed he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine war within his first 24 hours in office, is expected to propose the deployment of European soldiers to establish an 800-mile buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian forces. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The US, a major provider of aid and arms to Kyiv, is reportedly planning to supply Ukraine with more weapons to prevent Russia from reigniting the conflict. However, the US would not contribute troops to patrol or enforce the proposed 800-mile buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian forces.<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/us-news-president-american-donald-trump-buffer-zone-uk-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-america-first-policy-nato-putin-11731208829804.html|title=‘Not sending American…’: Donald Trump’s 800-mile buffer zone in Ukraine peace plan under ‘America First’ policy|publisher=mint|date=10 November 2024}}</ref>}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Trump would use strength talk to force Putin and Zelenski to sit to the table to talk, his power lies in how many weapons the U.S. supplies to Ukraine, if more, it puts pressure on Russia, if less, on Ukraine. | ||
| + | {{cquote|A poll released on Tuesday, December 10 by the New Europe Center, a Kyiv-based research institute, shows that almost half of Ukrainians (44.6%) say they have confidence in Trump, more than in other European countries, including Hungary (37%). The Republican's return to power on January 20 is seen in Ukraine as a sign of a return to peace, “just” or not.<ref name=44Trump>{{cite web|url=https://legrandcontinent.eu/es/2024/12/11/45-ucrania-es-uno-de-los-paises-de-europa-donde-la-gente-tiene-mas-confianza-en-trump/|title=45%: Ucrania es uno de los países de Europa donde la gente tiene más confianza en Trump|language=Spanish|publisher=Le Grand Continent|date=11 December 2024}}</ref>}} | ||
| + | On September 19, 2025 President Trump said, "Actually, we're making [[money]] from the [[war]]".<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/actually-we-re-making-money-trump-makes-freudian-slip-brags-about-profiting-off-of-the-war-in-ukraine-during-absurd-remarks-at-the-white-house/vi-AA1MVuwv</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Relations with Argentina=== | ||
| + | [[File:Zelenski gives a menorah to Milei.jpg|250px|thumbnail|[[Zelenski]] receives a Jewish [[menorah]] from Milei.]] | ||
| + | {{Main article|Javier Milei}} | ||
| + | The Libertarian Argentinian President, [[Javier Milei]] shares religion with Zelenski who game him a [[menorah]] during the inauguration of the first. Milei is pro-Israel and pro-Ukraine. It was the first time Zelenski visited [[Latin America]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Zelenski]] and [[Viktor Orbán]] were present in Milei's inauguration and they both discussed about [[Putin]] during the event. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Zelenski wants to produce weapons with the Argentinian Libertarian Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/741202-zelenski-quiere-que-argentina-y-ucrania-cooperen-para-desarr|title=Zelenski quiere que Argentina y Ucrania cooperen para desarrollar una industria armamentística|language=es|date=May 31, 2024|publisher=Página 12}}</ref> | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Economy== | ||
| + | [[File:96% of Burisma's production comes from Dniepr-Donets Basin.PNG|left|300px|thumb|The heart of Burisma Holdings' Yuzov field in the Dniepr-Dontes Basin ([[Donbas]]).<ref>[https://youtu.be/IFk5wgMl2k8 BURISMA GROUP VIDEO 2018], BURISMA GROUP, Oct 4, 2018. YouTube.</ref>]] | ||
| + | [[File:Dniepr-Donets Basin.PNG|left|300px|thumb|The Dniepr-Donets Basin (Donbas) center of Burisma Holdings on the [[Kharkov front]] during the [[NATO war in Ukraine]].]] | ||
With rich farmlands, a well-developed industrial base, highly trained labor, and a good education system, Ukraine has the potential to become a major European economy. After eight straight years of sharp economic decline from the early to late 1990s, the standard of living for most citizens declined more than 50%, leading to widespread poverty. Beginning in 2000 economic growth has averaged 7.4% per year, reaching 12.1% in 2004 and 7.0% in 2006. Personal incomes are rising. The macro economy is stable, with the hyperinflation of the early post-Soviet period now reduced to just over 11.6% (2006). Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, was introduced in September 1996 and has remained stable despite a small nominal appreciation in April 2005. While economic growth continues, Ukraine's long-term economic prospects depend on acceleration of market reforms. The economy remains burdened by excessive government regulation, corruption, and lack of law enforcement, and while the government has taken steps against corruption and small and medium enterprises have been largely privatized, much remains to be done to restructure and privatize key sectors such as energy and telecommunications and to allow the free sale of farmland. | With rich farmlands, a well-developed industrial base, highly trained labor, and a good education system, Ukraine has the potential to become a major European economy. After eight straight years of sharp economic decline from the early to late 1990s, the standard of living for most citizens declined more than 50%, leading to widespread poverty. Beginning in 2000 economic growth has averaged 7.4% per year, reaching 12.1% in 2004 and 7.0% in 2006. Personal incomes are rising. The macro economy is stable, with the hyperinflation of the early post-Soviet period now reduced to just over 11.6% (2006). Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, was introduced in September 1996 and has remained stable despite a small nominal appreciation in April 2005. While economic growth continues, Ukraine's long-term economic prospects depend on acceleration of market reforms. The economy remains burdened by excessive government regulation, corruption, and lack of law enforcement, and while the government has taken steps against corruption and small and medium enterprises have been largely privatized, much remains to be done to restructure and privatize key sectors such as energy and telecommunications and to allow the free sale of farmland. | ||
| − | + | [[File:Burisma Board Dir Hunter Biden.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Burisma Board Director Hunter Biden, appointed April 14, 2014 at $163,000 per month.<ref>https://archive.fo/aNhttps://archive.fo/wip/aNyOqyOq</ref> Biden spoke no Ukrainian nor had any knowledge or experience in the oil and gas field.]] | |
| − | Ukraine is rich in natural resources. It has a major ferrous metal industry, producing cast iron, steel, and steel pipe, and its chemical industry produces coke, mineral fertilizers, and sulfuric acid. Manufactured goods include airplanes, turbines, metallurgical equipment, [[Diesel fuel system|diesel]] locomotives, and tractors. It also is a major producer of grain, sunflower seeds, and sugar and has a broad industrial base, including much of the former U.S.S.R.'s space and rocket industry. Although proven onshore and offshore oil and natural gas reserves are small, it has important energy sources, such as coal, and large mineral deposits, and is one of the world's leading energy transit countries, providing transportation of Russian and Caspian oil and gas across its territory. | + | Ukraine is rich in [[natural resources]]. It has a major ferrous metal industry, producing cast iron, steel, and steel pipe, and its chemical industry produces [[Coke from coal|coke]], mineral fertilizers, and sulfuric acid. Manufactured goods include airplanes, turbines, metallurgical equipment, [[Diesel fuel system|diesel]] locomotives, and tractors. It also is a major producer of grain, sunflower seeds, and sugar and has a broad industrial base, including much of the former U.S.S.R.'s space and rocket industry. Although proven onshore and offshore oil and natural gas reserves are small, it has important energy sources, such as coal, and large mineral deposits, and is one of the world's leading energy transit countries, providing transportation of Russian and Caspian oil and gas across its territory. |
Ukraine encourages foreign trade and investment. The foreign investment law allows Westerners to purchase businesses and property, to repatriate revenue and profits, and to receive compensation in the event that property were to be nationalized by a future government. However, complex laws and regulations, poor corporate governance, weak enforcement of contract law by courts and particularly corruption have discouraged broad foreign direct investment in Ukraine. While there is a functioning stock market, the lack of protection for minority shareholder rights severely restricts portfolio investment activities. Total foreign direct investment in Ukraine was approximately $21.2 billion as of January 1, 2007. At $447 per capita, this was one of the lowest figures in the region. | Ukraine encourages foreign trade and investment. The foreign investment law allows Westerners to purchase businesses and property, to repatriate revenue and profits, and to receive compensation in the event that property were to be nationalized by a future government. However, complex laws and regulations, poor corporate governance, weak enforcement of contract law by courts and particularly corruption have discouraged broad foreign direct investment in Ukraine. While there is a functioning stock market, the lack of protection for minority shareholder rights severely restricts portfolio investment activities. Total foreign direct investment in Ukraine was approximately $21.2 billion as of January 1, 2007. At $447 per capita, this was one of the lowest figures in the region. | ||
| − | While countries of the former Soviet Union remain important trading partners, especially Russia and Turkmenistan for energy imports, | + | While countries of the former Soviet Union remain important trading partners, especially Russia and Turkmenistan for energy imports, Ukraine's trade is becoming more diversified. Europe is now the destination of over one third of Ukraine's exports, while around one quarter of Ukraine's exports go to Russia and the CIS. Exports of machinery and machine tools are on the rise relative to steel, which constitutes over 30% of exports. Ukraine imports over 80% of its oil and 73% of its natural gas. Russia ranks as Ukraine's principal supplier of oil and Russian firms now own and/or operate the majority of Ukraine's refining capacity. Natural gas imports come from Russia and Turkmenistan, which deliver the gas through a pipeline system owned and controlled by [[Gazprom]], Russia's state-owned gas monopoly. In 2005 and 2006, Ukraine switched from barter to cash payments for gas imports. Ukraine controls the gas pipelines on its territory that are also used to transit Russian gas to Western Europe. The complex relationship between supplier, transporter, and consumer has led to some tensions, including Russia's decision to cut off gas supplies for three days in January 2006. |
The Government of Ukraine's 12-month $605 million precautionary standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expired in March 2005, and Ukraine currently does not receive IMF financing. In Article IV Consultations, the IMF recommends fiscal discipline and structural reforms, particularly of Ukraine's pension system. In July 2005, the World Bank approved a $250 million Development Policy Loan (formerly a Programmatic Adjustment Loan) to support reforms to improve the investment climate, public administration and financial management, and social inclusion. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) project outlays more than doubled in 2005 to 530 million Euros, bringing its portfolio to 2.2 billion Euros. | The Government of Ukraine's 12-month $605 million precautionary standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expired in March 2005, and Ukraine currently does not receive IMF financing. In Article IV Consultations, the IMF recommends fiscal discipline and structural reforms, particularly of Ukraine's pension system. In July 2005, the World Bank approved a $250 million Development Policy Loan (formerly a Programmatic Adjustment Loan) to support reforms to improve the investment climate, public administration and financial management, and social inclusion. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) project outlays more than doubled in 2005 to 530 million Euros, bringing its portfolio to 2.2 billion Euros. | ||
| Line 122: | Line 571: | ||
===Economic data=== | ===Economic data=== | ||
| − | + | [[File:1-Russia-Ukraine-Biolabs.jpg|right|300px|thumb|U.S. owned biological laboratories in Ukraine.]] | |
Ukraine is classified as a lower middle-income nation, evolving into a post-soviet developing economy. | Ukraine is classified as a lower middle-income nation, evolving into a post-soviet developing economy. | ||
| Line 152: | Line 601: | ||
Major trade partners are Russia (25%), then about 5% each for [[Germany]], [[Poland]], Italy, [[Turkey]], and [[China]], and others. | Major trade partners are Russia (25%), then about 5% each for [[Germany]], [[Poland]], Italy, [[Turkey]], and [[China]], and others. | ||
| − | ===Environmental Issues=== | + | ===Environmental Issues=== |
[[Image:Chornobyl radiation96.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Radiation-affected areas from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as of 1996]] | [[Image:Chornobyl radiation96.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Radiation-affected areas from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as of 1996]] | ||
Ukraine is interested in cooperating on regional environmental issues. Conservation of natural resources is a stated high priority, although implementation suffers from a lack of financial resources. Ukraine established its first nature preserve, Askania-Nova, in 1921 and has a program to breed endangered species. | Ukraine is interested in cooperating on regional environmental issues. Conservation of natural resources is a stated high priority, although implementation suffers from a lack of financial resources. Ukraine established its first nature preserve, Askania-Nova, in 1921 and has a program to breed endangered species. | ||
| − | Ukraine has significant environmental problems, especially those resulting from the [[Chernobyl]] nuclear power plant disaster in 1986 and from industrial pollution. In accordance with its agreement with the G7 and European Commission in 1995, Ukraine permanently closed the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in December | + | Ukraine has significant environmental problems, especially those resulting from the [[Chernobyl]] nuclear power plant disaster in 1986 and from industrial pollution. In accordance with its agreement with the G7 and European Commission in 1995, Ukraine permanently closed the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in December 2000. Urgent measures for radiation and worker safety as well as structural improvements to the "sarcophagus" erected by the Soviet Union are largely complete, and the contract for construction of the new shelter to be built around the sarcophagus is expected to be awarded in 2007. |
Ukraine also has established a Ministry of Environment and has introduced a pollution fee system, which levies taxes on air and water emissions and solid waste disposal. The resulting revenues are channeled to environmental protection activities, but enforcement of this pollution fee system is lax. Ukraine ratified the Kyoto Protocol in April 2004. | Ukraine also has established a Ministry of Environment and has introduced a pollution fee system, which levies taxes on air and water emissions and solid waste disposal. The resulting revenues are channeled to environmental protection activities, but enforcement of this pollution fee system is lax. Ukraine ratified the Kyoto Protocol in April 2004. | ||
Construction of a shipping canal through a UN-protected core biosphere reserve in the Danube Delta, which began in May 2004, is an environmental issue of international interest. | Construction of a shipping canal through a UN-protected core biosphere reserve in the Danube Delta, which began in May 2004, is an environmental issue of international interest. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Burisma Holdings=== | ||
| + | Vice President [[Joe Biden]] oversaw the disbursement of $1 billion allocated by the U.S. to the new government of Ukraine. In 2014, Biden's son [[Hunter Biden]], was appointed to the board of directors of Burisma Holdings, the largest oil and gas company in Ukraine. Hunter Biden was hired by [[Mykola Zlochevsky]], who served as Ukraine's ecology minister in the previous administration. Hunter Biden was paid $166,000 per month. The money was split with the nephew of [[Whitey Bulger]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Zlochevsky came under investigation by the new administration for alleged embezzlement of $5 billion while ecology minister. The prosecutor traced payments made to Hunter Biden. Vice President Biden threatened the new Ukrainian administration to withhold $1 billion in U.S. allocated funds unless the prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden was fired.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/europe/corruption-ukraine-joe-biden-son-hunter-biden-ties.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Biden bragged about having caused the firing of the Ukraine prosecutor to a [[CFR]] conference. | ||
| + | [[File:Joe Biden at CFR meeting 2018 2.jpeg|left|300px|thumb|Biden at the [[Council on Foreign Relations]]: "‘I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money'...Well, [SOB], he got fired."<ref>https://haciendapublishing.com/articles/deep-dark-secrets-rich-famous-and-powerful-cliff-kincaid</ref>]] | ||
| + | U.S. banking records show Hunter Biden's firm, Rosemont Seneca Partners LLC, received regular transfers — usually more than $166,000 a month — from Burisma from spring 2014 through fall 2015, during a period when Joe Biden was the main U.S. official dealing with Ukraine. Biden threatened Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko]] that the [[Obama administration]] would pull $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees, sending Ukraine toward insolvency, if it didn't immediately fire Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin who was investigating his son, Hunter. Biden recounted, | ||
| + | {{quotebox-float|"'You’re not getting the billion'. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: ‘I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money'...Well, [SOB], he got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time."<ref name="thehill.com">https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/436816-joe-bidens-2020-ukrainian-nightmare-a-closed-probe-is-revived</ref><ref>https://www.cfr.org/event/foreign-affairs-issue-launch-former-vice-president-joe-biden</ref>}} | ||
| + | Yuriy Lutsenko, who replaced Shokin as the prosecutor looking into Burisma, said the evidence in the Burisma case he'd like to present to [[William Barr]], particularly the vice president's intervention. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Between April 2014 and October 2015, more than $3 million was paid out by Burisma to an account linked to Biden's and Devon Archer's Rosemont Seneca firm, according to the financial records placed in a federal court file in Manhattan in another case against Archer. The bank records show that, on most months when Burisma money flowed, two wire transfers of $83,333.33 each were sent to the Rosemont Seneca–connected account on the same day. The same Rosemont Seneca–linked account typically then paid Hunter Biden one or more payments ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 each. Ukrainian prosecutors reviewed internal company documents and wanted to interview Hunter Biden and Archer about why they had received such payments, but couldn't because of Joe Biden's intervention. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to a declassified [[CIA]] report,<ref>https://www.cia.gov/static/Ukraine_Redacted_Final.pdf</ref> officials in the administration of President [[Petro Poroshenko]] expressed [[confusion]] and disappointment after the Biden's visit to [[Kiev]] on December 7–8, 2015; the Ukrainian side expected that the visit would focus on discussing specific personnel matters in the Ukrainian government and assumed that Biden would express support for or opposition to certain officials. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, after the visit, they concluded that Biden's purpose was almost entirely limited to making a general public statement, with no intention of conducting substantive negotiations with Poroshenko. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In private conversations, Ukrainian officials pointed to publications about the [[Biden family]]'s ties to [[corruption]] schemes in Ukraine and called it an example of [[U.S.]] [[double standards]]. The document was marked "Top Secret," and at the insistence of Biden's office and the U.S. [[National Security Council]], it was decided in February 2016 not to distribute it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | On September 4, 2019, former Prosecutor General [[Victor Shokin]] made a sworn affidavit outlining Joe Biden's shakedown.<ref>https://www.scribd.com/document/427618359/Shokin-Statement</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | + | [[File:Annexations to the territory of Ukraine.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Annexations to the territory of Ukraine]] | |
| − | + | ||
| + | {{See also|History of Ukraine}} | ||
| + | Modern Ukraine is largely the remains of the failed efforts of [[Bolshevik]] [[nation building]]. Before the Bolshevik declaration of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian People's Republic existed for a few months headed by the "Hetman of all Ukraine", [[Pavlo Skoropadskyi]]. Recognition was not extended to it at the [[Versailles Conference]].<ref>https://www.academia.edu/92516490/The_Ukrainians_Unexpected_Nation_review_?email_work_card=title</ref> | ||
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| + | Under [[international law]], there is no border between the Ukraine and Russia. The [[Russian Federation]] is the legal successor state of the late [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]], including its foreign debts (which it paid off) its assets, its strategic [[nuclear weapon]]s, and its territory. When in 2019 the [[US]]-installed [[Kiev regime]] did not renew the 1999 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership which established a line of demarcation between Russian and Ukrainian territory, the borders became null and void, and the territory reverted back to Russia. | ||
| − | + | In December 2020, after torchlight parades took place all over Ukraine honoring [[Stepan Bandera]], head of the [[OUN-B]], Ukrainian national hero, who was a collaborator with the Nazis during the [[Second World War]], and whose men massacred [[Jews]] and [[Polish]] civilians, [[Poland]] and [[Israel]] issued a joint communiqué to complain about the glorification of Bandera, Andriy Melnyk, the head of the other branch of the OUN, the OUN-M, and all others who actively promoted the [[ethnic cleansing]] of Jews and Poles.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PLinUkraine/status/1212760669285736449 Joint statement of Ambassador of Polish Ambassador Bartosz Cichocki and Ambassador of Israel in Ukraine Joel Lion].</ref> | |
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