Voice of Ukraine

From Jamie Peipon: In the picture, you can see a screenshot from a video that came from what we can only assume is a Ukrainian unmanned water vehicle. In simpler terms, this is a boat drone. You can see a russian helicopter flying overhead. It is obviously aware of the boat and trying to stop it as you can the splash of bullets off the bow. Off on the horizon you can see a russian naval vessel which is the eventual target of this marine drone. This all took place near the occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea. (For you Mississipians, Sevastopol is the Ukrainian city for which the town of Sebastopol, MS is named.) This city is the largest in Crimea. It is right next door to the more internationally-known resort town of Yalta and is currently the occupied home of russia’s Black Sea fleet. The russians turned off all kinds of webcams in the city and we don’t have much information about what the final result of the attack actually was. Of course, russia is saying that they repelled the attack. The footage from the actual vehicles makes it clear that at least a couple of them reached their targets. Clearly some ships were harmed, but we don’t know if any were actually sunk, or how bad the damage inflicted was.

In response to this attack (that they apparently repelled), russia announced that it is suspending the deal that has been allowing the export of Ukrainian grain through Odesa for an “indefinite term.” The reasoning they give is that they cannot guarantee the safety of civilian ships that are transporting the grain. Which is basically like saying, “We can’t guarantee that we won’t shoot them.”

The russians are referring to this attack as terrorism, which would be pretty hilarious if it weren’t a matter of life and death. Ukraine attacked naval ships, which are illegally occupying their territory, and that have literally been firing cruise missiles at civilians. It seems to me that the term “terrorist” more aptly applies to the navy firing cruise missiles at civilians then it does to the country attacking legitimate military targets… but I’m no military expert.

“I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
For he has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.”