There’s news every day about Shahed attacks on Ukraine, but nobody talks in detail about what happens after the drone is shot down. We broke it down with bomb disposal technician Serhii.
Thanks, Mariana. It is very helpful to hear from specialists like Serhii. Mind you, do all Ukrainian departments have long names? "State Scientific Research Institute for Testing and Certification of Weapons and Military Equipment" must be one of the longest department names I've ever come across! On a more serious note, I cannot imagine how your country folk are feeling about hearing that some of the children kidnapped by Russia have been sent to North Korea - such inhumanity is difficult to comprehend.
Thank you for your support. The long names are a running quite common here!😂 On the serious note: the crime of deporting children to a regime like North Korea's is beyond comprehension. It is truly shocking. How do you think we can best keep the world's focus on these human stories ?
Perhaps you could put a daily item stating how many children (as far as is known) have been kidnapped, as a reminder lest the world forgets? Underneath "Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands..." It is something that your readership (indeed everyone) needs to think about every day.
Playing "army" was one of the main things my friends and I did while growing up in Texas during the 1950s and 1960s. We played Cowboys and Indians, re-fought the American Civil War as Rebels and Yankees, and a perennial favorite was WWII, where we whipped the Nazis and the Japs while dying as heroes charging machinegun nests. Those among us sent to fight in Vietnam maybe got more of the real thing than they wanted. I served four years in the USAF, but no one tried to shoot me, thank goodness.
No one should have this much experience handling bombs. I feel for Serhil, his team, and all the people doing this work day after day. I can only image how exhausted they must always be. I hope they each find ways to bring small moments of joy into their lives.
When this abomination of an assault by Russia is over, Ukraine will have so much to teach the rest of us. They have used their ingenuity in so many ways, with so few resources...technology, medicine, mental health. May that day come much sooner.
Playing war as a child: Actually, it was not something I did. The bigger kids who could climb a tree would yell "Bombs over Tokyo" and jump out of the tree. Yes, I'm old enough to remember the WWII years - at least the end. I don't remember the reports of the attack on Pearl Harbor. We had blackout curtains because we were near the Pacific Coast. Even later, we were cautioned not to pick up glass floats from fishing nets. Sometimes, they had been filled with explosives.
💪💙💛 Great backgrounder and a realistic Ukrainian story - heroic, ingenious, tragic, and human (plus cute dogs of course!) Also realistic for Russian war behaviour - cowardly, inhumane, war criminals & I don't know what is worse... the constant bombings & casualties or kidnapping children & sending them to terrible countries in unacceptable conditions 🤬 All bad, all war crimes, all unacceptable from one lot of humans to another 🥺
It is really sad that the USA currently has such an untrustworthy & problematic regime affecting the security & survivability of Ukraine as opposed to what should still be a staunch & committed ally 🤷 We can all see that Ukraine prevailing (and soon) is essential for good world order going forward & would indeed save the US, NATO, the EU et al a lot of $$ & stress if Russia/Putin are soundly defeated & learn that instigating wars with their neighbours will cost their country both power & $$$ for no gain 🤷
An update on turning swords into plowshares: turning drone parts into farming equipment!
It reminds me of the early days of 2022 when Ukrainian farmers were “adopting” abandoned Russian tanks and vehicles.
Thanks, Mariana. It is very helpful to hear from specialists like Serhii. Mind you, do all Ukrainian departments have long names? "State Scientific Research Institute for Testing and Certification of Weapons and Military Equipment" must be one of the longest department names I've ever come across! On a more serious note, I cannot imagine how your country folk are feeling about hearing that some of the children kidnapped by Russia have been sent to North Korea - such inhumanity is difficult to comprehend.
Thank you for your support. The long names are a running quite common here!😂 On the serious note: the crime of deporting children to a regime like North Korea's is beyond comprehension. It is truly shocking. How do you think we can best keep the world's focus on these human stories ?
Perhaps you could put a daily item stating how many children (as far as is known) have been kidnapped, as a reminder lest the world forgets? Underneath "Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands..." It is something that your readership (indeed everyone) needs to think about every day.
A funny thing: It’s already a shortened form of the name:)
And North Korea and Belarus, where their own people fare so poorly. Horrible for theUkrainian children.
Love you guys!
Just saying thank you for all you and the team are doing to get the true facts on the ground out with detail and compassion.
Playing "army" was one of the main things my friends and I did while growing up in Texas during the 1950s and 1960s. We played Cowboys and Indians, re-fought the American Civil War as Rebels and Yankees, and a perennial favorite was WWII, where we whipped the Nazis and the Japs while dying as heroes charging machinegun nests. Those among us sent to fight in Vietnam maybe got more of the real thing than they wanted. I served four years in the USAF, but no one tried to shoot me, thank goodness.
No one should have this much experience handling bombs. I feel for Serhil, his team, and all the people doing this work day after day. I can only image how exhausted they must always be. I hope they each find ways to bring small moments of joy into their lives.
It’s exhausting work physically and emotionally!
What do you hope brings them comfort when the day is over?
When this abomination of an assault by Russia is over, Ukraine will have so much to teach the rest of us. They have used their ingenuity in so many ways, with so few resources...technology, medicine, mental health. May that day come much sooner.
Playing war as a child: Actually, it was not something I did. The bigger kids who could climb a tree would yell "Bombs over Tokyo" and jump out of the tree. Yes, I'm old enough to remember the WWII years - at least the end. I don't remember the reports of the attack on Pearl Harbor. We had blackout curtains because we were near the Pacific Coast. Even later, we were cautioned not to pick up glass floats from fishing nets. Sometimes, they had been filled with explosives.
💪💙💛 Great backgrounder and a realistic Ukrainian story - heroic, ingenious, tragic, and human (plus cute dogs of course!) Also realistic for Russian war behaviour - cowardly, inhumane, war criminals & I don't know what is worse... the constant bombings & casualties or kidnapping children & sending them to terrible countries in unacceptable conditions 🤬 All bad, all war crimes, all unacceptable from one lot of humans to another 🥺
It is really sad that the USA currently has such an untrustworthy & problematic regime affecting the security & survivability of Ukraine as opposed to what should still be a staunch & committed ally 🤷 We can all see that Ukraine prevailing (and soon) is essential for good world order going forward & would indeed save the US, NATO, the EU et al a lot of $$ & stress if Russia/Putin are soundly defeated & learn that instigating wars with their neighbours will cost their country both power & $$$ for no gain 🤷