People in Russia risk lives to protest invasion of Ukraine

Hundreds arrested as shocked Russians protest Ukraine attack

Associated Press
By DASHA LITVINOVA

One petition, started by a prominent human rights advocate, Lev Ponomavyov, garnered over 150,000 signatures within several hours and more than 330,000 by the end of the day. More than 250 journalists put their names on an open letter decrying the aggression. Another one was signed by some 250 scientists, while 194 municipal council members in Moscow and other cities signed a third.

MOSCOW (AP) — Shocked Russians turned out by the thousands Thursday to decry their country’s invasion of Ukraine as emotional calls for protests grew on social media. Some 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were detained, at least 957 of them in Moscow.

Hundreds of posts came pouring in condemning Moscow’s most aggressive actions since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin called the attack a “special military operation” to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine from “genocide” — a false claim the U.S. had predicted would be a pretext for invasion, and which many Russians roundly rejected.

Tatyana Usmanova, an opposition activist in Moscow, wrote on Facebook that she thought she was dreaming when she awoke at 5:30 a.m. to the news, which she called “a disgrace that will be forever with us now.”

“I want to ask Ukrainians for forgiveness. We didn’t vote for those who unleashed the war,” she said.
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Global News

Russia Attacked Ukraine

 

CNN Live Updates

Readers of Wounded Times are around the world, including Russia and Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are in my prayers and so are the people of Russia that they open their eyes and see evil for what it is. This is an evil act committed against people who only wanted to determine their own futures peacefully. Most of the world are not blaming you for what your leader decided to do because we know you live in fear of his wrath. The question is, what will stop him when he wants more?

Lifeline Ukraine trying to break stigma of PTSD in veterans

Removing the Stigma: Ukraine Launches Suicide Prevention Hotline for Veterans

Atlantic Council
BY PETER DICKINSON
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

According to the World Health Organization, Ukraine currently ranks eighth internationally in terms of suicide rates among the population. It is one of a staggering six post-Soviet countries to feature in the global top ten (Lithuania is in first position followed by Russia in second place, Belarus in fifth, Kazakhstan in seventh, and Latvia in ninth). This hints at a vast mental health crisis across the whole of the former USSR, making initiatives like Lifeline Ukraine even more urgent.

Ukrainian veterans take part in the March of Defenders of Ukraine as part of Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenk

Autumn 2019 will see the official launch of Lifeline Ukraine, the country’s first professional suicide prevention and mental health support hotline. Recruitment of counselors has focused on Ukraine’s pool of approximately 400,000 combat veterans from the country’s undeclared but ongoing war with Russia. After completing training with international specialists in veteran mental health issues, they will begin working around the clock at the Lifeline Ukraine offices in Kyiv’s Podil district.

The launch of Lifeline Ukraine cannot come too soon. Mental health problems among former military personnel are a major social issue, and one that the country remains ill equipped to address. Prior to the Russian invasion of 2014, post-Soviet Ukraine had no experience of dealing with the trauma of military conflict, or of providing support for those left damaged by war. This was just one of the many ways in which Ukraine was completely unprepared for the onset of Russian aggression. Understandably, the country initially focused attention on defending itself against the immediate military threat, but the accompanying mental health challenges created by the conflict have since made themselves abundantly apparent.

There are no exact figures available for the number of suicides among Ukrainian military personnel and veterans, but experts believe at least 900 have taken their own lives since the start of hostilities five-and-a-half years ago.
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California Air National Guardsman Killed in Ukraine

Update

The Air Force on Wednesday identified the American pilot killed in a crash of a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft as Lt. Col. Seth “Jethro” Nehring, of the California Air National Guard.

Air Force confirms California guardsman killed in fighter crash in Ukraine

Stars and Stripes

Jennifer H. Svan

October 17, 2018

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – An Air National Guard member from California was killed along with a Ukrainian servicemember in a Ukrainian Su-27UB fighter crash Tuesday evening in Ukraine during a large-scale military aviation exercise, officials with U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa confirmed Wednesday.

A Sukhoi Su-27 takes off from Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 9, 2018 as part of the Clear Sky 2018 exercise. CHARLES VAUGHN/AIR NATIONAL GUARD

The U.S. airman was a member of the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, based in Fresno, Calif. The airman’s name is being withheld for 24 hours pending next of kin notification, USAFE-AFAFRICA officials said in a statement late Wednesday morning. read more here

US Psychiatrist Takes LSD on Road Trip to Ukraine for PTSD Soldiers

Exclusive Interview: US psychiatrist helps Ukrainian soldiers with new technique
UA Today Ukraine
September 11, 2015

UT explores a non-traditional method of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder

Ukraine Today is joined by Mr Stanislav Groff, who is a US psychiatrist, known for his extensive research into the effects of LSD on the human psyche. Mr Grof is here, in Ukraine, to help apply some of his methods which include the holotropic breathwork technique, to help Ukrainian troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The psychiatrists could spend 6 hours, 7 hours in the world that some of these patients seem to live in, and be able to understand them better, communicate with them better and hopefully, this would had influence on how successful we would be with therapy.
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Untold story of US Forces on Russia Aircraft in Afghanistan

Untold story of US Forces on Russia Aircraft in Afghanistan
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
March 26, 2014

Reading news reports from around the world brings puzzling information. I read about US Forces on Russian and Ukraine aircraft for their missions in Afghanistan. The article said that the Pentagon is searching for alternative transportation because of the rift between the US and Russia. It didn't seem possible, so I did some searches and found that the Antonov AN-124 is in fact being used by the US Military.

Military Photos has more pictures of the Antonov AN-124 being used for US Forces in Afghanistan.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers from 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Destiny, pose in the mouth of an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane after loading OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duncan Brennan, 101st CAB public affairs)

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers from 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Destiny maneuver an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter into the space between two other Kiowas already loaded onto an Antonov AN-124 cargo plane at Bagram Airield, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2013. Loading cargo onto an aircraft is a team effort ensuring the safety of the Soldiers loading the cargo. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Duncan Brennan, 101st CAB public affairs)

As you can see, the story is true. The pictures show the 101st Airborne working in these massive planes. What will happen to them if things come to a head with sanctions? The troops are still in harms way in Afghanistan. What will all of this mean to them and their safety?