February 27, 2022

'SNL' Pays Tribute to Ukraine in Solemn Cold Open

NBCWashington

"Saturday Night Live" opened its first show following the Beijing Winter Olympics with a stunning and solemn performance paying tribute to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York donned traditional embroidered outfits while they sang the rousing choral version of “Prayer for Ukraine" behind a table of candles that spelled the name of Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv.

Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong introduced the choir. The decades-old chorus was founded in the years after World War II by Ukrainian immigrants who wanted to preserve their cultural heritage in a new homeland, according to Ukrainian Weekly.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/snl-opens-with-solemn-tribute-to-ukraine-host-john-mulaney-enters-five-timers-club/2984749/

February 27, 2022

Belarus Holds Constitutional Vote as Crisis in Ukraine Rages

Voice Of America News

KYIV — Belarusians cast ballots Sunday in a constitutional referendum that the country's authoritarian leader called to cement his 27-year old grip on power, even as he offers the country's territory to his ally Russia to invade Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has edged even closer to Russia amid crippling Western sanctions over his crackdown on domestic protests, said he was confident that Belarusians will support a set of constitutional amendments that would allow him to stay in power until 2035.

The revised main law also sheds Belarus' neutral status, opening the way for stronger military cooperation with Russia, which deployed forces to Belarusian territory under the pretext of military drills and then sent them rolling into Ukraine as part of the invasion that began Thursday.

Some of those forces quickly closed in on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, located just 75 kilometers (less than 50 miles) south of the border.

https://www.voanews.com/a/belarus-holds-constitutional-vote-as-crisis-in-ukraine-rages-/6461639.html

February 27, 2022

Ukraine launches 'IT army,' takes aim at Russian cyberspace

By James Pearson

LONDON (Reuters) - Ukraine will create an "IT army" to fight against Russia's digital intrusions, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Saturday.

Ukraine has called its hacker underground to help protect critical infrastructure and conduct cyber spying missions against Russian troops, Reuters exclusively reported last week.

"We are creating an IT army," Fedorov wrote in a Tweet that linked to a channel on the Telegram messaging app which published a list of prominent Russian websites.

"There will be tasks for everyone. We continue to fight on the cyber front. The first task is on the channel for cyber specialists,"fight on the cyber front” as Russian forces continue their assault on Ukraine.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-launches-army-takes-aim-214226643.html

February 26, 2022

Invocation for Berehynia, Ukranian Protective Goddess

Statue of Berehynia in Kyiv's Independence Square

From patreon.com

Berehynia, or Bereginya, is an ancient Slavic tutelary goddess of Kiev and guardian goddess of Ukraine since the independence of this nation in 1991. She was a hearth mother who protected the home, children, and women, but since Ukraine became it's own country, She was seen as the protector of the entire nation. This monument was created and placed in Her honor in 2001 in the center of Kiev in place of former Lenin monument.

"Great Berehynia, ancient protectress of the Slavic people, please come to their need at this time of turmoil, violence, and war. They fight for their independence, their homes, and their lives at this time, and they need You to help protect them. Place a cloak of protection and safety around all of Your children, especially those in Your tutelary city of Kiev. President Zelensky and his loyal compatriots and nationalists need to be hidden and protected from any harm. All of the men, women, and children call for shielding from this violence and persecution. Thank You and so mote it be."

You can create a small altar with this picture or even flowers or altar clothes of yellow and blue. Burn any incense you may have, as well as any candles (but especially if they are yellow and blue). Do this daily until peace is throughout Ukraine.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/invocation-for-63080176

February 26, 2022

Arm the raccoons

February 26, 2022

Pressure mounts on major tech companies to take tougher line against Russia

Washington Post
By Cat Zakrzewski
Today at 9:13 a.m. EST

With Ukraine’s capital under siege, major tech companies are coming under mounting pressure to use their influence over the world’s most popular phones, apps and social media platforms to take action against Russia.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s digital minister, on Friday sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, calling on him to stop supplying products and services, including the App Store, to Russia. Fedorov suggested that such a move would motivate young Russians to “proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression.”

“We need your support — in 2022, modern technology is perhaps the best answer to the tanks, multiple rocket launchers … and missiles,” he wrote.

He also tweeted early Saturday that he had contacted Facebook parent company Meta, Google and Netflix, asking them to suspend services in Russia. He called on YouTube to block “propagandist” Russian channels.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/26/apple-youtube-ukraine-russia-pressure/

February 26, 2022

Russia faces heavy losses as it attacks Ukraine on all fronts

Kyiv Independent
by Alexander Query

Russia lost 14 planes, 8 helicopters, 102 tanks, 536 BBM, 15 heavy machine guns, and 1 BUK missile since Feb. 24, according to Ukraine’s military.

The Kremlin also lost over 3,500 soldiers, Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on Feb. 26. Nearly 200 service members have been kept hostage.

Russia has begun redeploying reserve units in the areas bordering Ukraine and continues to carry out airstrikes on airfields, military depots, and civilians. Airstrikes target Sumy, Poltava, Mariupol, and Kyiv which saw heavy fighting overnight.

From the Black Sea, Russia launched naval-based cruise missiles across Ukraine.

https://kyivindependent.com/national/russia-faces-heavy-losses-as-it-attacks-ukraine-on-all-fronts/

February 26, 2022

Russia's losses as of Feb. 26: Ukrainian Defense Ministry

https://kyivindependent.com/national/russia-faces-heavy-losses-as-it-attacks-ukraine-on-all-fronts/

February 26, 2022

War Via TikTok: Russia's New Tool for Propaganda

NBCWashington
By David Klepper • Published 2 hours ago • Updated 2 hours ago

A Russian TikTok video has it all: a cat, puppies and a pulsing background beat. It's cute, watchable and hardly seems the stuff of state propaganda.

In 2014, Russia flooded the internet with fake accounts pushing disinformation about its takeover of Crimea. Eight years later, experts say Russia is mounting a far more sophisticated effort as it invades Ukraine.

In the cat video, a husky puppy identified by a digitally inserted U.S. flag swipes at the tail of a tabby identified by a Russian flag. The cat responds with a ferocious jab that sends the hapless dog scurrying. The clip, which has been viewed 775,000 times in two weeks, is the work of an account named Funrussianprezident that boasts 310,000 followers. Almost all of its videos feature pro-Russian content.

“It could just be a patriotic Russian fighting the good fight as they see it, or it could easily be something directly affiliated with the state,” said Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation researcher and expert on Eastern Europe at the Wilson Center in Washington. “Russia has been perfecting these tactics.”

More at link

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/war-via-tiktok-russias-new-tool-for-propaganda/2984363/

February 26, 2022

ICC Prosecutor Is Monitoring Ukraine Invasion

NBCWashington
By Mike Corder

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor has put combatants and their commanders on notice that he is monitoring Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

But Prosecutor Karim Khan acknowledged that he cannot investigate the issue that is being most talked-about at this stage of the invasion — the crime of aggression.

Western leaders have widely condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to invade Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said the invasion “was always about naked aggression, about Putin’s desire for empire by any means necessary," while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it “Vladimir Putin's war of aggression.”

While the global treaty that established the Hague-based court in 2002 has been updated to include the crime of aggression since 2018, Khan said he does not have jurisdiction over that because neither Ukraine nor Russia is among the court's 123 member states.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/icc-prosecutor-is-monitoring-ukraine-invasion/2984317/