Gates of Vienna News Feed 3/1/2022

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled out sending any British troops to fight in Ukraine. Mr. Johnson also declined to support enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Meanwhile, many Czech citizens are volunteering to join the Ukrainian foreign legion, with the support of President Milos Zeman.

In other news, Ontario has cancelled its vaccine passport mandates, and removed capacity restrictions on businesses.

To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.

Thanks to Dean, DV, Reader from Chicago, SS, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.

Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.

Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. I check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.

USA
» Google Suppresses America’s Frontline Doctors in Search Results
» Hunter Biden’s Pal Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraud Scheme
» Jill Biden SOTU Guest is Critical Race Theory Supporter
» Judge Isn’t Convinced That Lawmakers Coerced Twitter Into Banning Trump
» Mark Zuckerberg’s Grant Funds During 2020 Presidential Election Violated Wisconsin’s Bribery Laws: Report
» People’s Convoy Reaches Illinois as it Makes Its Way to Washington DC for Trucker Anti-Mandate Protest: Capital is on High Alert Ahead of State of the Union Address
» Seattle’s Flagship McDonald’s Closes Over Safety Concerns Following Nearby Fatal Shooting
 
Canada
» A Quarter of Canadians Willing to Risk War With Russia: Poll
» Alberta Drops Mask Mandate, Stops Municipalities From Imposing Their Own Mask Mandates
» Bonnie Henry Says to Expect COVID Restrictions to Return Before She Even Drops Them
» Calgary Protesters Remain Vigilant, Continue Demonstrations Against Government Overreach
» Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland Photographed Marching With Neo-Nazis, Holding Up Banderite Scarf
» Despite Recent Ban on Russian State Broadcaster, Canadian Bureaucrats Won’t Commit to Banning Chinese State Media
» Edmontonians Speak Out: If You Care About Ukraine, Build Keystone XL!
» First Nations Mothers Fighting $35,000 in Fines for Going to Buy Groceries, Diapers
» Former MP Reacts to Potential Trump 2024, Trucker Protests and Conservative Leadership
» Freedom: Ontario Ends Coronavirus Vaccine Passports, Removes Capacity Restrictions
» Hacked Freedom Convoy Donors’ Personal Information Posted Around Ottawa Streets
» Pastor Artur Pawlowski Held in Calgary Remand Centre as Family, Supporters Gather Outside
» Thousands of Canadians Volunteering to Fight for Ukraine
 
Europe and the EU
» 8 EU Member State Leaders Call for Immediate Accession Talks to Bloc for Ukraine
» Boris Johnson Rules Out Sending British Troops to Ukraine, Shuts Down ‘No-Fly Zone’ Pleas
» Charges Dropped Against Suspects Accused of Shooting British BLM Leader After Witnesses Refuse to Cooperate
» Czechs to Join Ukrainian Foreign Legion, President Zeman is Supportive
» EU Approves Sending of Fighter Jets to Ukraine in ‘Watershed’ Moment for the Bloc
» Germany Army Should be One of the Most Powerful in Europe, Says German Finance Minister
» Hungary Will Neither Ship Nor Allow Weapons Transits to Ukraine
» Major British Airline DROPS Mask Mandate for Flights
» On Second Thoughts, Maybe Not: UK U-Turns on Allowing Britons to Volunteer in Ukraine
» One in 25 Germans Sought Medical Attention Due to Vaccine Injury
» Sweden’s Political Left Stands Against Govt Sending Weapons to Ukraine
» Woke Wars: UK Teachers Told English Exams ‘Uphold Whiteness’
 
Russia
» Biden Speaks to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky
» Boeing Ends Support for Russian Airlines
» Breaking: Journalist Raheem Kassam Suspended by Twitter for Violating ‘Hacked Materials’ Policy
» Crypto Exchanges Push Back Against Calls to Freeze Accounts of All Russian Citizens
» Czechs Warned They Could be Jailed for Supporting Russia on Social Media
» Domain and Hosting Provider Namecheap Bans Russian Citizens
» Globalist Billionaire Bill Ackman Calls for U.S. Military Intervention in Ukraine
» Google Disables Live Traffic Maps of Ukraine Over Fears of Revealing Troop Movements
» ‘It’s No Different to Hitler’: Journalist Faces Backlash for Demanding Ukraine No Fly Zone
» Latest Developments
» Officials Urge Big Tech to Censor Disinformation After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
» Pics: Reports Claim Over 5,000 Detained in Five Days of Anti-War Protests in Russia
» Red Cross Flags Dire Conditions in East Ukraine as Tensions Flare Anew With Russia
» Report: Putin Has Moved His Family Into Siberian ‘Underground City’ Designed to Survive Nuclear War
» Russia Claims Nationalists Shooting Ukrainian Soldiers Who Want to Give Up, Looters Armed by Kyiv ‘Rampaging’
» Russia Announces ‘Anti-Fascist’ Conference to ‘Unite World’ Against Nazism
» Russian Advance on Kyiv Stalled, U.S. Defense Official Says
» Russia Steps Up Aerial Campaign Against Cities: Ukraine Update
» Tech Platforms Start Blocking RT and Sputnik in Europe After EU Order
» Twitter Starts Reducing the Reach of Russian State-Affiliated Media Websites
» Ukraine Faces Mounting Difficulties as 40-Mile Russian Convoy Bears Down on Kyiv
» Ukraine War Lifts Wheat Prices to Highest Since 2008
» Ukrainian Supporters in Toronto Agree With Sanctioning Russian Oil
» Vatican Offers to ‘Facilitate Negotiations’ Between Russia and Ukraine
» War in Ukraine Will Hit Polish Growth
» World’s Largest Working Aircraft Destroyed in Fighting, Confirms Ukraine Govt, Vows to Rebuild
» Zelensky Calls for Flooding Ukraine With Foreign Fighters to Push Back Russia
 
Australia — Pacific
» NZ PM Jacinda Ardern is Dealt Major Blow Over Vaccine Passports for Cops, Military
 
Immigration
» 90,000 Ukrainian Refugees Arrive in Hungary
» At Least 150 Migrants Including Young Children Wrapped Up in Puffer Jackets Battled Wet and Windy Conditions to Cross the Channel by Small Boat to the UK Today
» ‘Destabilising Force’ Eric Zemmour Wants Ukrainian Refugees to Stay in Poland
» Larger Than Migrant Crisis: EU Expects ‘Seven Million’ Ukrainian Refugees, Largest Movement Since Second World War
» UK: House of Lords Wrecks Borders Bill Clause Criminalising Illegal Boat Migration
 
Culture Wars
» Facebook Pressured to Censor More Climate Change Skepticism
» State Senate Cuts Funding for ‘Gender Studies’ At University of Wyoming
 

Google Suppresses America’s Frontline Doctors in Search Results

More evidence is emerging of Google manipulating algorithms powering its mammoth and highly influential search service to give certain results (much) more visibility than others.

And now, reports say, Google is not even trying to hide that this is the case, as America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) has been informed its reach on the internet is being artificially limited.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Hunter Biden’s Pal Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraud Scheme

A former business parter of President Biden’s son Hunter Biden, has been sentenced to time in federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud a Native America tribe of around $60 million in bonds.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Jill Biden SOTU Guest is Critical Race Theory Supporter

First lady Jill Biden is set to attend President Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday night with a select group of guests, including one individual who has pushed heavily for the teaching of critical race theory in schools.

Melissa Isaac, the Gizhwaasod (“Protector of the Young”) at the Michigan Department of Education’s Indigenous Education Initiative, has a history of rejecting arguments on social media made against the teaching of critical race theory.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Judge Isn’t Convinced That Lawmakers Coerced Twitter Into Banning Trump

A US district judge must have been asleep at the wheel, supporters of President Trump suspect, if he really failed to notice that Trump’s banishment from major social media happened under serious pressure from his political opponents.

The issue of whether or not Big Tech’s social media platforms were effectively forced to ban a sitting president at the coercive behest of certain lawmakers and groups has come up as part of proceedings in a court case Trump has launched in a bid to regain the right to use Twitter.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Mark Zuckerberg’s Grant Funds During 2020 Presidential Election Violated Wisconsin’s Bribery Laws: Report

A state-appointed special council to the Wisconsin Assembly has found that grant funds provided directly to five counties in the state violated the state’s election code’s prohibition of bribery, amongst other concerns.

The Office of Special Counsel, led by retired state Supreme Court justice Michael Gableman, released a second interim report Tuesday in regards to an investigation about election integrity and the 2020 election, according to The Federalist.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

People’s Convoy Reaches Illinois as it Makes Its Way to Washington DC for Trucker Anti-Mandate Protest: Capital is on High Alert Ahead of State of the Union Address

The fencing around the U.S. Capitol is back up, police are stationed at major intersections and highways in Washington D.C. and the National Guard on standby ahead of President Joe Biden’s Tuesday evening State of the Union address — but, undeterred, the People’s Convoy is still rallying through the midwest on its way to the capital.

Federal authorities beefed up security in the area after dozens of trucker convoys announced plans to gather in the capital city and protest coronavirus restrictions, including one group that threatened to shut down a major interstate.

However, after at least two of the announced trucker convoys fizzled due to to a lack of participation, it is unclear if any of the anti-vaccine protesters will arrive in time for the president’s annual address to Congress.

The largest truck caravan, the eight-mile long, 100-vehicle People’s Convoy, rallied in Missouri overnight and continued its trek through Illinois on Tuesday, despite a harsh warning from state police discouraging protesters and threatening legal action for traffic disruptions.

Modeled after recent trucker protests in Canada that shut down border crossings to the U.S., the People’s Convoy has called on Biden to end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as any remaining coronavirus mandates. The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates…

           — Hat tip: DV [Return to headlines]
 

Seattle’s Flagship McDonald’s Closes Over Safety Concerns Following Nearby Fatal Shooting

The flagship McDonald’s in downtown Seattle has reportedly closed because they cannot guarantee the safety of their employees and customers.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

A Quarter of Canadians Willing to Risk War With Russia: Poll

According to a recent poll, one in four Canadians would risk open warfare with a nuclear superpower by having the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) directly engage in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

A Maru Public Opinion conducted over the weekend suggests that 25% of Canadians want the CAF to join the fighting overseas immediately.

The poll comes as the Canadian government ramps up sanctions and measures against the Russian Federation after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to cross into Ukraine and launch an offensive against the nation’s capital Kiev.

Another 26% of those polled oppose the idea, saying Canada should never send its army into Ukraine.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Alberta Drops Mask Mandate, Stops Municipalities From Imposing Their Own Mask Mandates

Albertan Premier Jason Kenney has ordered a ban on local mask laws in the Canadian province through the introduction of legislation to prevent pro-lockdown mayors from circumventing provincial health advisory.

The new amendments to the Municipal Governments Act will prevent municipalities from implementing their own public health measures.

Alberta previously lifted its mask mandate alongside nearly all COVID-19 health restrictions. Those in Calgary will only be required to wear face coverings in a few settings, including on public transit, Alberta Health Services facilities, and nursing homes, the Calgary Herald reported.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Bonnie Henry Says to Expect COVID Restrictions to Return Before She Even Drops Them

Even before holdout province British Columbia has committed to dropping its vaccine passport and mask mandates, B.C.’s chief health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is announcing that people should be prepared to see COVID restrictions return in the fall.

“There’s still a lot of this virus circulating around the globe so there will inevitably be changes and surprises we will need to adapt to,” Henry said during a COVID update on Tuesday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Calgary Protesters Remain Vigilant, Continue Demonstrations Against Government Overreach

While Jason Kenney parades his government as champions of freedom with most COVID-19 restrictions and mandates set to expire this week, thousands are still protesting government overreach and the authoritarian response of health officials in Alberta and across Canada. Mainstream media and social media pundits alike were quick to echo the “the mandates are over, what are you protesting?” government talking points, but the folks attending the Calgary Freedom Rallies over these past years have been paying far closer attention than government officials likely suspected, and they explained that they will continue to protest because we are far from free when it comes to vaccine passports and restrictions.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland Photographed Marching With Neo-Nazis, Holding Up Banderite Scarf

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Sunday participated in a rally for Ukraine where she held up a red and black scarf tied to Ukraine’s neo-Nazi movement of Banderites.

In a post on Twitter, Freeland expressed her solidarity with the people of Ukraine before promptly deleting it after numerous replies pointed out the significance of the scarf’s colours and its words “Glory to Ukraine” written in Ukrainian.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Despite Recent Ban on Russian State Broadcaster, Canadian Bureaucrats Won’t Commit to Banning Chinese State Media

Canadian broadcast bureaucrats won’t commit to banning Chinese state broadcasters from Canadian airwaves. The admission comes after the House of Commons voted to ban Kremlin-financed broadcaster Russia Today.

Russia Today is propaganda,” said Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez “RT is disinformation. RT is misinformation. I totally support the decision.”

However, when asked by journalists about other state broadcasters, Trudeau would not commit to a ban.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Edmontonians Speak Out: If You Care About Ukraine, Build Keystone XL!

Every Saturday at the Edmonton legislature, hundreds of protesters gather to rally against the remaining lockdown restrictions in Alberta and for the last five weeks, a convoy of trucks has joined them as part of a nationwide convoy movement against COVID tyranny. This week, amongst the anti-lockdown signs and “F Trudeau” flags, dozens of new signs showed up: yellow and blue Ukrainian flags.

Canada has the third-largest population of people of Ukrainian descent, behind Ukraine and Russia, so the support for Ukrainian independence from Russia at the freedom protest and convoy should be no surprise to anyone, except maybe the CBC who called the Westerner-led convoy to Ottawa that jammed up the nation’s capital for over three weeks a Russian operation.

President Joe Biden, as his first act in the Oval Office, revoked the permit of the nearly complete cross-border Keystone XL pipeline which would carry 830,000 barrels of oil daily from Alberta to refineries in America.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

First Nations Mothers Fighting $35,000 in Fines for Going to Buy Groceries, Diapers

A group of Manitoba mothers is awaiting a tribunal’s decision after appealing $35,000 worth of tickets they received for travelling to buy groceries and diapers during a stay-at-home COVID order in January.

Kattey Hart, a mother of four in Nelson House, Manitoba told True North that she and seven other women made the decision to travel to Thompson an hour away on Jan. 20 to buy much-needed essentials including baby food, infant supplements and milk.

The women live in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), about 670 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Hart said the grocery store in the NCN was closed and that the community’s paid grocery delivery system was far behind schedule.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Former MP Reacts to Potential Trump 2024, Trucker Protests and Conservative Leadership

During my time at CPAC, I met up with fellow Canadian Kerry Diotte, a former Conservative MP for the riding of Edmonton Griesbach.

We spoke about the speech former president Donald Trump delivered at CPAC, where in addition to teasing a run in 2024, Trump also called out Justin Trudeau and discussed his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.

I also asked the former MP about how Conservatives in Canada should strategize going forward, now that the party is looking for a new leader.

“The whole world has woken up to the fact that Justin Trudeau is certainly a socialist,” Diotte said. “He tramples on rights and I think that people in the United States are a lot more cognizant of that these days.”

Diotte says that the beginning of the end for former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole happened “when he went from ‘true blue’ conservative to something else, something quite different.” Diotte also says that he is supporting Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre for party leader, and that he will run again in the next election to try to reclaim his old seat.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Freedom: Ontario Ends Coronavirus Vaccine Passports, Removes Capacity Restrictions

The government of Ontario, Canada has removed Wuhan coronavirus vaccine passport requirements entirely on Tuesday, but noted businesses can choose to enforce the measures on their own.

Ontario conservative Premier Doug Ford announced the end of the vaccine passport system last month after claiming that “key public health and health system indicators” were improving.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Hacked Freedom Convoy Donors’ Personal Information Posted Around Ottawa Streets

During the night between Monday and Tuesday, February 22, a person who wishes to remain anonymous contacted me to inform me that several posters concerning donors to the Freedom Convoy had been posted in the city of Ottawa, displaying donor names, the amount of the donation, as well as their address.

Since he works in this area, he observed the first posters being placed at about 1:15 a.m. in the morning. Knowing how dangerous it could be for these people, he spent over two hours removing the signs.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Pastor Artur Pawlowski Held in Calgary Remand Centre as Family, Supporters Gather Outside

Pastor Artur Pawlowski has been behind bars for three weeks. He has been treated like a common criminal — worse, in fact, because murderers and drug dealers often get bail. Artur was denied that ‘luxury’.

Apparently, violent criminals deserve to have their rights and freedoms respected, but pastors who feed the homeless, preach and even occasionally criticize the ruling authorities, all Charter enshrined rights by the way, are too dangerous to be released on bail.

If this all sounds too absurd to believe, that indicates only that you are still in touch with reality.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Thousands of Canadians Volunteering to Fight for Ukraine

True North has learned that thousands of Canadians are volunteering to travel to Ukraine to fight against Russia as part of the country’s International Legion of Territorial Defence.

The Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Vancouver Mir Huculak has told True North that they have been flooded with requests from both men and women hoping to fight overseas.

“(I’ve received) thousands of requests, at least 150 today. People want to help; people want to fight for justice,” Huculak said on Tuesday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

8 EU Member State Leaders Call for Immediate Accession Talks to Bloc for Ukraine

The presidents of eight member states of the European Union, including Czech President Milos Zeman, have called for Ukraine to be granted the European Union candidate status and for accession talks to commence immediately.

In a joint letter, the leaders of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the heads of the Baltic states, all insisted that Ukraine was deserving of recognition as a candidate for European Union membership, a position also shared by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who told Euronews on Monday that Ukraine belongs to Europe: “They are one of us, and we want them in.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Boris Johnson Rules Out Sending British Troops to Ukraine, Shuts Down ‘No-Fly Zone’ Pleas

The United Kingdom will not send soldiers to wage war upon Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday.

Appearing in Tapa, Estonia alongside NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Estonian PM Kaja Kallas, Boris Johnson said that while the past week had brought with it “scenes we hoped we would never see again” in Europe, he would not send British forces into the fray in Ukraine.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Charges Dropped Against Suspects Accused of Shooting British BLM Leader After Witnesses Refuse to Cooperate

The group of suspects accused of shooting radical Black Lives Matter leader Sasha Johnson in the head last year at a party in London have had their charges dropped after witnesses have refused to cooperate with the police investigation.

A trial was set to start in March against four men charged over the shooting. However, at a hearing last week, prosecutors said it could not go ahead for reasons that could not be set out fully in open court, BBC reported. According to the prosecution, the case, now dropped, was based on circumstantial evidence with no direct evidence identifying any of the defendants as Johnson’s attackers.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Czechs to Join Ukrainian Foreign Legion, President Zeman is Supportive

In what could mark a serious escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a number of Western countries are authorizing sending foreign volunteers to fight in the war, with Czechia now likely to give consent as well.

According to the Czech Ministry of Defense, the first citizens who want to go with weapons in hand to defend Ukraine are now volunteering. Czech law allows it, but every volunteer needs the president’s consent. The current president, Milos Zeman, will not prevent Czechs from going to Ukraine to fight if the government authorities approve it, he has stated.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

EU Approves Sending of Fighter Jets to Ukraine in ‘Watershed’ Moment for the Bloc

The European Union announced on Monday its intention to supply Ukraine with fighter jets to aid the ongoing defense of the country following Russia’s invasion.

Described as a watershed moment by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the bloc has approved the use of €450 million of its budget for member states to provide Ukraine with arms, including air defense systems, anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and protective equipment. The Commission also approved the sending of fighter jets by member states to Kyiv.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Germany Army Should be One of the Most Powerful in Europe, Says German Finance Minister

Germany’s Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has called for targeted strengthening of the Bundeswehr. Referring to the war in Ukraine, he said on Monday in ARD’s “Morgenmagazin” that he was in favor of building up one of the most capable, powerful, and best-equipped armies in Europe over the course of this decade.

This goal corresponds with the responsibility of Germany in Europe, he said. The FDP has been in favor of strengthening the Bundeswehr for many years, Junge Freiheit reported.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Hungary Will Neither Ship Nor Allow Weapons Transits to Ukraine

Hungary will not send troops and weapons to Ukraine and neither will it allow the transit of weapons there, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday.

“We live in tumultuous times. The National Security Operative Group also met this morning,” Orban said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Major British Airline DROPS Mask Mandate for Flights

UK airliner Jet 2 has confirmed that it will no longer ask customers to wear face masks while on board flights.

The airliner is the first to make such an announcement, saying that the change was made following the UK’s decision to drop masking as a guideline.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

On Second Thoughts, Maybe Not: UK U-Turns on Allowing Britons to Volunteer in Ukraine

Downing Street officials have now contradicted earlier advice that British citizens could travel to Ukraine to take up arms against Russia, pointing out that this is, in fact illegal under UK law.

Downing Street has told Britons that they might want to hold off on travelling to Ukraine in order to face off against invading Russians, saying that those who do so may be breaking the law.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

One in 25 Germans Sought Medical Attention Due to Vaccine Injury

While the war in Ukraine is raging, explosive information is also coming to the fore about vaccine injury. The German health insurance company BKK ProVita has published a report about side effects after the Corona jab.

The numbers of vaccination side effects after Covid-19 vaccinations are truly catastrophic. These are not mild side effects either but moderately severe and severe. Massive underreporting of the treatment of these injuries is to be assumed.

Dutch information analyst Wouter Aukema and doctor Paul van Hoek have studied the matter extensively. In a Twitter thread, they write that the health insurer analysed claims for vaccine side effects due to the Corona jab and issued a warning to the German government.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Sweden’s Political Left Stands Against Govt Sending Weapons to Ukraine

The leader of Sweden’s Left Party has slammed the decision by Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to break with the country’s tradition of neutrality and ship weapons and body armour to Ukraine.

Swedish Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar allegedly wanted to support the shipment of 5,000 anti-tank rockets to Ukraine, but the leadership board of the party rejected the idea, becoming the only party in the Swedish parliament not to back the shipment of arms.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Woke Wars: UK Teachers Told English Exams ‘Uphold Whiteness’

British teachers were told English exams “uphold whiteness” at a National Association for the Teaching of English (NATE) diversity seminar, as the Tory government continues to lose the “culture wars” against far ideology.

The Sunday Telegraph newspaper saw the seminar on the supposed “lack of diversity in English teaching”, which accused English examinations in tortuous terms of “negat[ing] the apparent need to explicitly engage with issues pertaining to race and racism, representation in literature and society, while at the same time upholding whiteness under the guise of universality.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Biden Speaks to Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky

President Biden spoke Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for more than 30 minutes, the White House said.

Details on the phone call are expected to be released later in the day.

On Twitter, Mr. Zelensky said he had just spoken to Mr. Biden: “The American leadership on anti-Russian sanctions and defense assistance to Ukraine was discussed. We must stop the aggressor as soon as possible. Thank you for your support!”

The White House said the pair discussed the U.S.’s “sustained help for Ukraine, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance, economic support and humanitarian aid.”

The two leaders “discussed how the United States, along with Allies and partners, is working to hold Russia accountable, including by imposing sanctions that are already having an impact on the Russian economy,” the White House said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Boeing Ends Support for Russian Airlines

Boeing Co. said Tuesday that it has suspended parts and maintenance support for Russian airlines as well as its operations in Moscow, further restricting the nation’s ties and adding further barriers to its carriers’ ability to fly.

European Union sanctions recently barred parts for Airbus SE and other aircraft being exported to Russia, alongside a ban of Russian carriers from EU airspace.

Boeing’s move adds to the challenges for Russian airlines to continue operating a fleet of more than 700 Western-built aircraft.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Breaking: Journalist Raheem Kassam Suspended by Twitter for Violating ‘Hacked Materials’ Policy

The National Pulse editor-in-chief Raheem J. Kassam was locked out of Twitter after a tweet of his Tuesday “violated” the platform’s “hacked materials” policy.

“Fox News internal email appears to suggest their senior correspondent thinks the KGB still exists,” Kassam tweeted Tuesday morning, adding the facepalm emoji.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Crypto Exchanges Push Back Against Calls to Freeze Accounts of All Russian Citizens

In the ongoing Ukraine war, the West has intervened by applying sanctions on Russia, effectively crippling its economy and causing its currency to plummet. The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Federov went as far as requesting cryptocurrency exchanges to ban all users in Russia and its ally Belarus.

However, a few of the largest crypto exchanges have refused the request, saying it went against what crypto stands for.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Czechs Warned They Could be Jailed for Supporting Russia on Social Media

European Union and NATO member-state Czechia has warned citizens who express support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including on social media, they could face prison.

“The Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office considers it necessary to inform citizens that the current situation associated with the Russian Federation’s attack on Ukraine may have implications for their freedom of expression,” warned Czechia’s Attorney-General, Igor Striž, in an official press release.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Domain and Hosting Provider Namecheap Bans Russian Citizens

On Monday, Namecheap, a company that provides domain registration services, emailed Russian citizens to inform them that it would no longer provide them with services because of the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, due to the Russian regime’s war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine, we will no longer be providing services to users registered in Russia,” the company says in the emails sent yesterday.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Globalist Billionaire Bill Ackman Calls for U.S. Military Intervention in Ukraine

Globalist billionaire investor Bill Ackman has called for the United States to intervene militarily in the Russia-Ukraine war, despite the clear risk that this would lead to a global nuclear conflict.

Ackman, who exploited COVID-19 hysteria to make billions after hysterically warning “hell is coming” if the entire country was not shut down, made the comments on Twitter.

[Comment: There is nothing preventing Bill Ackman from taking a trip to Ukraine and picking up a rifle.]

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Google Disables Live Traffic Maps of Ukraine Over Fears of Revealing Troop Movements

Tech giant Google has disabled the live traffic data on its Maps app in Ukraine after consulting with Ukrainian officials who worry that the feature could be used to track military movements.

Futurism reports that Google has disabled live traffic data on its Maps app in Ukraine after speaking with Ukrainian officials. As Ukraine contends with the Russian invasion, the country has been reaching out to tech giants for help in many areas.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘It’s No Different to Hitler’: Journalist Faces Backlash for Demanding Ukraine No Fly Zone

Journalist Dan Hodges faced a backlash on Twitter for asserting a no fly zone should be imposed over Ukraine, something that would almost inevitably start World War III, because Vladimir Putin is no different from Hitler.

Hodges, who spent much of the last two years cowering in his house afraid of a virus with a 99%+ survival rate for his age bracket, was noticeably more strident when it came to the potential for a global nuclear apocalypse.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Latest Developments

State of the Union: President Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin is more isolated from the rest of the world than ever after invading Ukraine, using Tuesday’s State of the Union address to highlight the coordinated response of the United States and allies and rally Americans behind defending democracy. Mr. Biden said Mr. Putin “sought to shake the foundations of the free world thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated.”

In Ukraine: Russian forces shifted to a new strategy of pummeling civilian areas Tuesday in an attempt to demoralize Ukrainian resistance.

Live-cam footage from Kharkiv showed a missile landing just outside the local government’s headquarters. A strike on Kyiv’s TV tower killed five people and briefly disabled broadcasting.

A senior U.S. defense official said the Russian advance has stalled amid food and fuel shortages, Ukrainian resistance and slower-than-expected troop movements. However limited supply routes are also complicating efforts by the U.S. and other allies to provide weapons to Ukraine.

Sanctions: Western countries agreed to remove seven Russian banks from Swift, the financial-messaging infrastructure that underpins the global financial system, but left access open for some others, leaving open a path for energy supply payments.

Sanctions from the U.S. and its allies have so far spared energy shipments from Russia, but U.S. lawmakers are pressuring President Biden to target the sector. Even without sanctions in place, refiners have balked at buying Russian oil and banks are refusing to finance shipments of Russian commodities.

Markets: On Tuesday, U.S. stock indexes fell and bond yields slipped while oil prices rose to their highest level since 2014. The U.S. and other major oil-consuming nations said they would release 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency stockpiles. Russian markets remained shuttered.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Officials Urge Big Tech to Censor Disinformation After Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

High ranking officials from Ukraine, France, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, and the European Commission are pushing Big Tech platforms to crack down on “illegal content and disinformation,” deplatform Russian state media, ban Russian and Belarusian government officials, and more after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint letter that was published today, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, Lithuania’s Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte, and Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and urged them to take action against Russia’s “massive disinformation campaign” by taking seven “immediate steps”.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Pics: Reports Claim Over 5,000 Detained in Five Days of Anti-War Protests in Russia

Ukrainian state media on Tuesday quoted an estimate from independent Russian human rights group OVD-Info that “at least 6,474 people have already been detained during anti-war rallies that swept across Russia after Russian troops invaded Ukraine.”

“On Monday, 487 people were detained in 14 cities across the country. Most of them were arrested in Moscow (274) and in St. Petersburg (188). On the previous day, 2,802 people were detained in 56 cities,” Ukraine’s Ukrinform news service wrote.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Red Cross Flags Dire Conditions in East Ukraine as Tensions Flare Anew With Russia

The Red Cross reported shelling of Donbass a month ago which was not necessary by the Ukrainian govt as these are civilian areas. The CIA/US has been supplying Nazi groups with money and weapons to kill Russian speakers, no other reason as they are not at the Russian front. They can only use the weapons to kill people around them.

           — Hat tip: SS [Return to headlines]
 

Report: Putin Has Moved His Family Into Siberian ‘Underground City’ Designed to Survive Nuclear War

A story that sounds completely made up is going viral as the information war ramps up concerning the conflict in Ukraine. A Russian professor has claimed that Vladimir Putin has moved his entire family into a secret underground city built to withstand a nuclear holocaust.

The Daily Mail reported on the assertions of Valery Solovey, a political scientist and former professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, who claims that Putin is both physically and mentally unwell, and has ordered family members to take up residence in a nuclear bunker in the Altai Mountains.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Russia Claims Nationalists Shooting Ukrainian Soldiers Who Want to Give Up, Looters Armed by Kyiv ‘Rampaging’

The Russian government has claimed armed Ukrainian nationalists are killing Ukrainian army officers who want to give up, and that looters armed by Kyiv (Kiev) are “rampaging” through the capital.

Major General Igor Konashenkov, The Russian defence ministry’s chief spokesman, admitted for the first time on Sunday that Russian forces have been killed and even taken prisoner during President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation… to de-militarise and de-Nazify Ukraine” — but insisted that “our losses are many times less” than those of the Ukrainian “nationalists” and regular forces.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Russia Announces ‘Anti-Fascist’ Conference to ‘Unite World’ Against Nazism

Russia announced on Tuesday plans to host the world’s first “International Anti-Fascist Congress” in order to “unite” the world’s efforts in combatting the ideology of Nazism and Neo-Nazism.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced a military operation to “de-Nazify” Ukraine last week, claiming Jewish President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government was run by “Nazis” and “coup” leaders. Zelensky became president in a free and fair election in 2019 — in which his opponent, Petro Poroshenko, attacked him as being too friendly to Russia.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Russian Advance on Kyiv Stalled, U.S. Defense Official Says

The Russian advance on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities has stalled amid food and fuel shortages, Ukrainian resistance and slower-than-expected troop movements toward the capital, a senior U.S. defense official said.

The Russians “are regrouping and trying to adjust to the challenges they have had,” the official said. The Russians appeared to be “risk averse,” the official said, and there is evidence some Russian troops have surrendered and that morale is weak among the force.

“The overarching movement on Kyiv is stalled at this point,” the official said.

Overnight, Russian forces made no major movement toward Kyiv. A convoy of hundreds of Russian vehicles stretching for 40 miles is at a standstill north of the capital, the official said.

The Russians are advancing in other parts of the country, the official said. The U.S. believes that while Russia is encircling Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, it hasn’t taken any contested major population centers.

U.S. officials fear that Russian forces could begin targeting civilians, particularly as Moscow’s original military plan appears to falter. The Russians have launched more than 400 missiles within Ukraine since the invasion began. In all, 80% of the roughly 190,000 troops Russia staged around Ukraine’s borders in the runup to the invasion have crossed the border, the official said.

The U.S. sees no evidence that Russia is considering retreating, the defense official said. Rather, the U.S. believes Russia intends to move toward Kyiv.

“We don’t see a re-evaluation of the entire operation and the invasion of Ukraine at a strategic level,” the official said.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Russia Steps Up Aerial Campaign Against Cities: Ukraine Update

Russia escalated shelling overnight of key cities in Ukraine as its troops on the ground move slowly in a large convoy toward the capital, Kyiv. The mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, said residential areas were being bombed and “this is a war to destroy the Ukrainian people.”

The drumbeat of penalties against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine is growing louder, but not seemingly impacting events on the ground in the conflict.

           — Hat tip: Dean [Return to headlines]
 

Tech Platforms Start Blocking RT and Sputnik in Europe After EU Order

State-controlled Russian media outlets such as RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik have started to be geo-blocked in European countries after the European Union (EU) announced an “unprecedented” ban on “the Kremlin’s media machine.”

The tech giants Facebook and TikTok are blocking RT and Sputnik accounts and posts in the EU while YouTube is blocking RT and Sputnik channels and videos across Europe, including in non-EU member states such as the UK.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Twitter Starts Reducing the Reach of Russian State-Affiliated Media Websites

Twitter has announced the rollout of new labels and restrictions on Russian state-affiliated media websites.

The new labels will appear prominently above any links from sites that Twitter has classed as Russian state-affiliated media and contain the message: “Stay informed. This Tweet links to a Russia state-affiliated media website.”

The labels will also contain a “Find out more” link which will presumably link to Twitter’s Help Center article on government and state-affiliated media account labels.

In an example shared by Twitter’s Head of Site Integrity, the new label is shown above an article from Russia Today (RT).

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Ukraine Faces Mounting Difficulties as 40-Mile Russian Convoy Bears Down on Kyiv

International observers generally agree Ukraine did well against the first phase of the Russian invasion, thwarting a blitzkrieg apparently intended to decapitate the Ukrainian government in a matter of days.

As of Tuesday, however, the second phase is underway, and Russia’s enormous quantitative advantage in troops, armor, airpower, and missiles poses an enormous challenge to Ukraine’s determined defenders.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Ukraine War Lifts Wheat Prices to Highest Since 2008

Wheat futures trading on the Chicago Board of Trade are at their highest levels since the global financial crisis, in response to war in Ukraine.

The most-traded wheat futures on the CBOT rose 5.4% to $9.84 a bushel Tuesday, hitting the exchange’s limit for how far up or down wheat prices can move in one day. That limit was reached before trading even officially began at 9:30 a.m. ET.

This time, Russia’s war in Ukraine is the dominant force behind climbing prices, with sanctions from Western nations on Russia’s financial system also causing the world’s biggest container ship operators, A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S and Mediterranean Shipping Co., to temporarily suspend services to Russian ports.

Fund traders are taking the opportunity to mitigate risks of an extended conflict in Ukraine creating prolonged disruption of trade flows.

“CBOT traders are starting to understand that the Ukraine war will be extended, and even if Russia is able to capture Ukraine in the coming weeks, the world will not allow Russian/Ukraine grain [or] energy to be sold,” research company AgResource said in a note Tuesday.

Russia is the world’s leading exporter of wheat, with Ukraine not far behind. In the last full marketing year, Russia exported over 39 million metric tons of wheat, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ukraine shipped nearly 17 million tons of wheat that year. By comparison, the U.S. exported 27 million tons.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Ukrainian Supporters in Toronto Agree With Sanctioning Russian Oil

This past weekend on my way to Toronto’s weekly freedom rally that takes place at Queens park every Saturday, I came across a large crowd of Ukrainian Canadians and their supporters outside of the U.S. consulate.

Canada has the largest Ukrainian population outside of the Ukraine itself and Russia, with over 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent across the country. That’s why when we all heard the news when Putin invaded Ukraine last week, it personally affected the families of many Canadians whose families are directly impacted.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Vatican Offers to ‘Facilitate Negotiations’ Between Russia and Ukraine

ROME — Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Italian journalists late Sunday that the Holy See is ready to “facilitate negotiations” between Russia and Ukraine.

Asked about a possible spread of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to other parts of Europe or the start of a new cold war, Cardinal Parolin said he does not “even dare to think about it.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

War in Ukraine Will Hit Polish Growth

ING bank is now predicting that Polish GDP will be down 1.3 points from previous forecasts, making attaining 4 percent growth an optimistic scenario. Polish GDP took a hit in 2020 as a result of the pandemic but bounced back strongly in 2021, growing by 5.7 percent.

But the coming 12 months are expected to be tough because of the war in Ukraine.

ING had expected Poland’s economy to grow by 4.5 percent this year, but as a result of the hostilities in Ukraine, they have now revised the growth forecast down to 3.2 percent. The estimate has been revised downward because of anxiety over the disruption in international trade and the general anxiety among both consumers and businesses, which is expected to constrain spending and domestic demand.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

World’s Largest Working Aircraft Destroyed in Fighting, Confirms Ukraine Govt, Vows to Rebuild

The sole working Antonov-225 Cossack was confirmed lost by the Ukrainian government on Sunday night, ending days of speculation about the status of the jumbo aircraft amid heavy fighting at its home base, but — perhaps remarkably — the Ukrainian government has vowed to rebuild.

The iconic sextuple-engined An-225 was destroyed in fighting at Kyiv’s Antonov / Gostomel airport last week, the Ukrainian government has now confirmed. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister confirmed the loss, which had been the subject of rumour and speculation for days since Russia made multiple attempts to capture Antonov airport on the outskirts of Kyiv, reportedly part of their war plan to use the strip to land large volumes of troops to assault the city.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Zelensky Calls for Flooding Ukraine With Foreign Fighters to Push Back Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky established a new wing of the armed forces on Monday called the “International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine,” intended for foreign nationals who wish to come to fight in the country’s war against Russia.

Zelensky signed a decree creating the military wing on Monday and has lifted visa requirements for individuals who fit the requirements to join the forces. The initiative comes as reports indicate Russian leader Vladimir Putin may be planning a much larger military assault on the country after his initial push towards Kyiv failed.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern is Dealt Major Blow Over Vaccine Passports for Cops, Military

The New Zealand High Court upheld a challenge questioning the lawfulness of vaccination passports for the Defense Force and Police employees. In the decision, Justice Francis Cooke said that the mandates, which required employees to present a vaccine passport or lose their jobs, were not a “reasonably justified” violation of the Bill of Rights.

After overturning the Police and Defence order in court, a lawyer for uniformed personnel, Matthew Hague, has written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and is giving her until Friday to remove “discriminatory” vaccine passports too.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

90,000 Ukrainian Refugees Arrive in Hungary

About 90,000 refugees from Ukraine have crossed the Hungarian border, government spokesman Alexandra Szentkiralyi said on Monday, stressing that Hungary is still waiting for fugitives from the war in Ukraine with “open arms, help and good intentions.”

She added that the Hungarian government would help the people fleeing the war to Hungary with all its effort.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

At Least 150 Migrants Including Young Children Wrapped Up in Puffer Jackets Battled Wet and Windy Conditions to Cross the Channel by Small Boat to the UK Today

More migrants battled wet conditions to reach the UK by small boat this afternoon with at least 150 people in total crossing the Channel today.

Border Force detained at least seven boats — with small children among those spotted at the Port of Dover.

The first of this afternoon’s arrivals were brought to shore via Border Force cutter Searcher, while a second group were escorted into the UK on board a rib a short while later.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

‘Destabilising Force’ Eric Zemmour Wants Ukrainian Refugees to Stay in Poland

French presidential hopeful Eric Zemmour has said that he would rather refugees fleeing Ukraine remain in Poland, with France already suffering from the ‘destabilising force’ of immigration.

Populist firebrand Eric Zemmour has told the electorate that he would rather Ukrainian refugees keep away from France, and that his country would be better off helping those already in Poland.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Larger Than Migrant Crisis: EU Expects ‘Seven Million’ Ukrainian Refugees, Largest Movement Since Second World War

European Union officials have stated they are preparing for millions of refugees from Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, with half a million moving west already, many going to Poland.

European Union (EU) Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson stated that she did not know the exact number of people who may arrive from Ukraine due to the Russian invasion but said, “I think we will have to prepare for millions.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

UK: House of Lords Wrecks Borders Bill Clause Criminalising Illegal Boat Migration

Home Secretary Priti Patel’s immigration bill suffered serious setbacks on Monday evening in the House of Lords, which rejected key elements of the proposed legislation, including criminalising illegal migration by alleged asylum seekers.

The government’s long-touted Nationality and Borders Bill, which seeks to curb the record waves of illegal aliens arriving by boat and other means to the UK, saw four sections rejected on Monday by the House of Lords, which sent the legislation back to the Commons.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

Facebook Pressured to Censor More Climate Change Skepticism

Last year in May, Facebook said it would ramp up its censorship on climate change skepticism. But now, according to a report by nonprofit advocacy group Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) (who also now branch out and call for censorship of climate change misinformation?) the company has not adequately delivered on that promise and should do more.

Facebook said it would add “information labels” to posts about climate change, directing users to authoritative sources in the “Climate Science Information Center.”

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

State Senate Cuts Funding for ‘Gender Studies’ At University of Wyoming

The Wyoming State Senate has cut the Gender Studies program at the University of Wyoming. The vote in the state senate was 16 to 14. The amendment was proposed by Cheri Steinmetz who represents Lingle, and had found some of the course offering at the state funded university to be unnecessarily extreme.

           — Hat tip: Reader from Chicago [Return to headlines]
 

9 thoughts on “Gates of Vienna News Feed 3/1/2022

  1. Czech and Slovak observers see Africans leaving Ukraine. Mostly young men. Polish border guards are reported to have put up a fence and to be fighting Africans who are trying to enter Poland from Ukraine.

  2. Hungary has its own reason. I am familiar with one Ukrainian Hungarian, who by some miracle brought to our distant lands. He has a car service. So cute. Like a father to his workers. I think he would be happy to join Hungary.

  3. This is what it looks like in place.

    Residents of Kirov helped a Serbian driver who was left without money due to sanctions

    A driver from Serbia named Slobodan drove through the Kirov region and was left without money near Omutninsk and expresses his deep gratitude to the drivers from the city of Kirov and the Kirov enterprise “Privolzhye-Trans”, the director of the cafe “Dorozhnoye” in the city of Omutninsk for the help provided in difficult times! – posted on social media.
    Because of the sanctions, Slobodan could not pay for tire fitting and parking. There was not even money for food: the driver’s card was disconnected from the SWIFT system.

    • Dear Elena. It is heartbreaking but that is the way like sanctions usually work. I feel sorry for that Serbian driver, but I am crying for the Kharkov inhabitants who have been ruthlessly bombed for the last five days and nights by Russian army.

      • Yes, we are all in shock. At least you were mentally prepared for a Russian attack. We didn’t expect any war. The Russian media called it stupid fears and disinformation.

        The whole business is paralyzed. If I lived somewhere on the other hemisphere of the earth, I think I would be delighted with what is happening: The crazy dictator razed to the ground not only a foreign country, but also his own. And most importantly, it is not clear why.

        But unfortunately I am not in the other hemisphere. And there’s nothing I can do about it. Usually in Russia, such things were decided when the inner circle threw a noose around the neck of the tyrant, and not from the will of the people.

        • I heard an “expert”on the BBC predicting the same: Any popular revolt against Putin would be ruthlessly suppressed, it will be someone senior in the Russian military or security who brings him down following this disaster.

          • Do you really think those Russian billionaires are going to let Putin live after the west does a number on their wealth?

          • Read about the Turkestan uprising of 1916. Now their descendants have occupied our cities. This could be a big factor.

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