Aug 15 Buonasera Mag- Ferragosto Ed
Day 173 of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine-- some readings and videos
Today is a national holiday in Italy. Please view Scott’s EA Worldview for today’s news from Ukraine and the world.
Additional listening and readings
I couldn’t leave you without something to listen to and/or read.
A new commemorative stamp in the making
Anne Applebaum, The Other Ukrainian Army- The Atlantic
Out of almost nothing—out of a beat-up apartment building at the back of an empty courtyard—Anna Bondarenko has already created a community, a refuge from the war. The offices of her Ukrainian Volunteer Service (UVS) are in old rooms with high ceilings; the largest, lined with desks, has the words a good deed has great power painted on one of the walls. Other rooms contain a kitchen—often, the team eats meals together—and some bunk beds for those who need them. Bondarenko told me that at age 15, she spent a year as an exchange student at an American high school, where she found herself for the first time having to explain where Ukraine is, and what it is, and, though she came from a Russian-speaking family, she discovered that she liked the idea of being Ukrainian.
Russians raging over Crimea operation
Business Ukraine Mag: the prospect of an EU tourist visa ban has severly rattled the Kremlin and is clearly a major weakness for the Putin regime. Here chief Kremlin propagandist Solovyev warns that a refusal to issue Russians with visas may lead to “a preventative nuclear strike”.
Jonathan Fink Podcast
'Colour Revolutions' is a concept central to how Russia interprets the West's intentions. I spoke to @ivanastradnerabout 'Colour Revolutions' and the technology of regime change.
Kirillova, Russia’s Military Grows Afraid of the Long War
Russia’s military experts, even those wholly loyal to the Kremlin, are getting tetchy and are increasingly sounding the alarm that the prolongation of hostilities will rebound against Russia.
Those doubts about the course of events are increasingly shared by the public. In mid-July, independent sociologists from the Chronicles research project noted that during a period of about six weeks, the number of Russians declaring support for the so-called special military operation decreased by 9%, from 64% to 55%. This is the lowest level since the beginning of the war and, according to the researchers, this decline is expected to continue.
Shevchenko’s message to the world
Kamil Galeev
Most foreigners don't read Russian and are thus unfamiliar with the Russian internal discourse.
Let me give you a single but illustrative example Russian discourse is largely centred around how much our consumption standards have fallen or will fall. And nothing else matters.
Russia is not an idealistic irrational society as many picture it. It's ultra-pragmatic culture. If you think it can be moved by the killed Ukrainian civilians (or Russian soldiers KIA), you are insane. Decrease in consumption standards, that's the *only* thing that really hurts.
Putin's decision to start the war will be judged based on how much our consumption standards will fall. If they don't fall too dramatically, it means Putin made good or okayish decision. Everything's alright, just chill down. If they *do* fall though, oh, it's very painful.
Russian people are not dumb. They absolutely do see a causal link between the Putin's decision of February 24 and the life standards dynamics in Russia. In fact, it is the potential decrease in the consumption standards that has been the main concern about the invasion of Ukraine.
If consumption standards do not fall dramatically, it means that the main concern about the Special Operation was groundless.
It doesn't have serious downsides It consumption standards do fall dramatically, it means the main concern about the Special Operation made sense.
Donations to the Ukrainian Fire Fighters
John Oxley, A Tory party that’s out of ideas will soon find itself out of power—The New Statesmen
The Conservative Party frames itself as the party of opportunity. It’s a phrase you will have heard many times if you’ve been mad enough to tune into any of the leadership hustings and debates. It’s a useful avatar for the small-state, self-sufficient, drag-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps ethos that has dominated the party since Margaret Thatcher, and which handily has no real meaning. Yet for all its talk of opportunity, the Conservatives seem intent on throwing their own away.
Italian General Elections explained by Yaryna Grusha Possamai
Yaryna Grusha Possamai is a professor at the University of Milano holding Ukrainian language and culture courses as well as being a journalist for Linkiesta and La Republica. She is also a political analyst and has appeared on Italian networks, and our own EuroFile@6 and WTF show on the LiberiOltre YouTube channel.
In the video below, our Ukrainian readers can find out more about the Italian general elections to be held on September 25th.
Putin’s supporters in Italy
Italian Federation of Human Rights VP Eleonora Mongelli meeting with Tsihanouskaya in Vilnius
