Have we forgotten about Ukraine?
Today, Saturday Aug. 24 is Ukraine's Independence Day & how to help Ukraine
Today. August 24th marks 33 years of Ukraine's independence. It has been well over two years since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The solidarity events in support of Ukraine around the world has diminished. The stalling of U.S. aid to Ukraine by a U.S. Congress dominated by chaos resulted in a heavy cost to Ukraine. Despite all, Ukraine perseveres for the carnage and brutality of Russia’s invasion Putin’s War is not forgotten by the Ukrainian people. Slava Ukraini!
From Nova Ukraine:"It’s a day of celebration and reflection for our global community. As we honor Ukraine’s resilience, unity, and rich history, we acknowledge the sobering reality that we are now in the third year of a full-scale invasion, 900 days of continuous fight for just peace and freedom. Despite these immense challenges, the spirit and determination of the people of Ukraine remain unbroken."
According to today’s NY Times, “ The Independence Day celebration on Saturday marks 33 years since Ukraine split away from a crumbling Soviet Union. Earlier in the war, Ukraine marked the day by parading burned Russian armored vehicles along Kyiv’s central thoroughfare, Khreshchatyk Street, using the holiday to bolster morale. This year, Mr. Zelensky hosted Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, and Lithuania’s prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, at ceremonies in Kyiv.”
Russia and Ukraine announced today that they had each exchanged 115 prisoners of war that were held by both sides.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address, said Russia wanted to "destroy" Ukraine, but the war had "returned to its home". Follow FRANCE 24's live coverage of the Ukraine war https://www.france24.com/en/
BBC reports that Pokrovsk, Ukraine's vital eastern town is in Russian sights. “Before the war, Pokrovrsk was home to some 69,000 residents, with many of them employed in coal mining, metallurgy and machine-building. The town of Pokrovsk plays a crucial role as a logistics hub used by Ukrainian forces in the eastern region of Donbas. It is home to a key railway station, and it is located at the intersection of several important roads.” Follow BBC’s coverage of the war in Ukraine https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c785z8917leo
A new report from UN human rights monitors in Ukraine has revealed the “horrific toll” of attacks by Russian armed forces, with May recording the highest number of civilian casualties in nearly a year. Read more at https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1151741
Wash. D.C. September 2024 Ukraine Action Summit
The American Coalition for Ukraine has announce the 5th Ukraine Action Summit in Washington, D.C., from September 23 – 25, 2024. All US based individuals welcome – as a constituent, your voice matters.
How to help the civilian population in Ukraine?
Shortly after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, I have worked with Mariya Tuzyk who is the wife of the Mayor in Kopychyntsi, Ukraine to get direct support for the local efforts to help the Internally Displaced Refugees from the war regions. Many in our local community here on the Mendocino Coast in Northern California have stepped up to help her community with their dollars. Now you can directly donate to NAVKOLO-- a charitable organization founded jointly by internally displaced persons and the local population of Kopychyntsi community by going to: https://www.navkolo.org.ua/
Nova Ukraine is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and raising awareness about Ukraine. https://novaukraine.org/
drawing by Ukrainian artist Alevtina Kakhidze, made two days after the Russian invasion