‘Very painful and very surprising move’: Ukrainian journalist on Russia’s latest attack

joining us now from Ukraine journalist Ilia ponomarenko author of I will show you how it was the story of wartime keev thank you so much for being with us I want to ask you about your experiences in the battles embedded with the forces but first your reaction to these advances by Russia in the Northeast How concerned are you about Kev and about it drawing support from other areas in the in the East where Russia is also trying to advance well it’s definitely a very painful a very surprising move uh from Russians at the same time it’s sadly expected because uh Ukrainian forces are having a pretty bad time in terms of um these monthlong lags in um supplies 4 and8 uh to to the military it has really hard time in terms of the flow and Manpower on this um in general the situation with morale is not very good so we have like a consensus about this is that are using this momentum in many ways this win of opportunity before um us assistance in particular comes in supplement the D lack of Munitions and many other things that are needed for for war and they want to really extend uh the front line to draw many Ukrainian forces from other significant areas and front lines like the east or the southern Ukraine which is uh very crucial for them and in many ways it’s also about propagandistic goal of showing the Russian military making gains advancing into Ukrainian territory liberated two years ago following the Ukrainian successes so far it’s about near Frontline areas several kilometers deep into Ukrainian territory uh it’s not about um the capture of har the major multi-million City and one of the strongest fortresses of Ukraine but nonetheless it’s the symptom of ongoing problems and many flaws uh with u uh foreign supplies and also within the military and the Ukrainian government systems we have lots of problems with fortifications on the ground we have many questions to Ukrainian leadership and the Ukrainian military when it comes to the organization of of Ukrainian defense so it’s about many many problems that Ukraine is having now and unfortunately this is happening because of many many flaws from our side too and there are reports that Ukraine zalinski in particular is pressing the US for the ability to shoot into Russia to fire longrange weapons into Russia and still is facing resistance from the administration so it’s like fighting with one hand tie behind your backs the administration concerned about of course escalating it’s true it’s true that many commentators here in Ukraine also our friends um outside of Ukraine they really rais this question that is from long time ago uh it happened that in those areas particularly when it comes to uh Russian areas Border in har region or now sum region it’s been months that Russia was able to concentrate huge forces and a lot of means to make this Advance possible without Ukrainian ability to actually strike on this Russian infrastructure Russian supplies Russian forces so it’s really uh we have a situation in which um we have to Simply watch and and behold Russians concentrated them forces and then advancing uh it’s true that we in Ukraine as as media Representatives as many politicians here and in Beyond Ukraine we really press uh and we really point out this major flaw in US Administration policy towards this war is that Ukraine needs to have this ability to um um to strike in advance to prevent major developments and preferences from um from the Russian side uh at the same time I must point out that it’s true that it’s a major problem but at the same time it’s one of the problems that’s that haunt Ukraine right now in war major problems are internal too in your book I will show you how it was you talk about the battles for ke two years ago as you look forward how deep is the concern that Ukraine is going to be forced to make concessions at the bargaining table because Russia has been able to make these advances because Congress was delaying and stalemated for months you know one of the reasons why I wrote this book and one of the reasons why I’m kind of glad that this book comes out in this time in uh in the and day is that you know situation feels really dark and desperate right now the morale is not as high as it as it used to be Prospect for the future is not as bright and hopeful as it used to be so in many ways uh my book is about hope that we had during the Battle of ke when we had little to nothing ate from from the West when we basically half of the world was buing Ukraine alive when we didn’t know if tomorrow happens in this way but at the same time I want to remind myself and to many other people who kind of lose Hearts is that everything is possible um no matter how dark the situation is just like now there’s always something that we can do there’s always something to fight with uh we can always talk through our problems we can always persuade our allies and Friends into making another step as we did for the last two two years with so many weapon types that were absolutely no goes on for us from tanks to missiles air defense to other places so when it comes to my book in the future it’s it’s about keeping the morale high and doing what should be done and uh the fact that you know having faith and doing what needs to be done really acts out really works so it’s my answer for the Future Let’s do what we should because it helps it helped us back two years ago and it keeps helping us right now no that’s the spirit that’s indeed the spirit that has rallied the world around you thank you so much Ilia thanks for your book and the book is I will show you how it was for

Illia Ponomarenko, author of “I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv”, joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss Russia stepping up its offensive in Northeast Ukraine, and share more from his memoir on the ongoing war in his homeland.

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‘Very painful and very surprising move’: Ukrainian journalist on Russia’s latest attack

#Ukraine #Russia #War

27 comments

  2. I hope Trump launches whatever investigations and congress launches its committees into who allowed hundreds of billions of our children’s wealth to be laundered to that farce. Guessing that’s why they don’t want him back in and that makes us want to vote for him all them more. Enjoy your laundering for a couple more months.

  13. I just want to apologize to everyone for comments that I have never sent. Last night, like every night, they broke in to my apartment, I'm sure they used my phone to impersonate me. They're posting diabolical, like themselves posts. It never crossed my mind that besides brutalizing me, they would use my phone… Since they're so interested in what I write, they want chaos, one way, or the other they must have it. Lately I tried to put the time on my posts.Last night I did my last writings just a little bit after midnight. If the text are nasty, and doesn't convey peace, unity, and love it's not from me. I'm under the impression that they have been doing this for a while… That's how far, and beyond these lunatics go. Just keep in mind one thing, through wars, hate, and division they keep themselves in power while the world perishes.

  15. Shovels and washing machines did this? Wait I was being told Ukraine was winning. Why isn’t anyone talking about a spring summer fall counteroffensive!

  17. Nothing surprising about an offensive beginning in May – that's when they begin. Ukraine had one last May, didn't work out, hence the reticence to send more weapons for Putin to capture. That, and The lack of interest by the overwhelming majority of the male population 18 to 60 to fight

  18. More than 80% of the 11 million males in Ukraine aged 18 to 60 have never signed up. 600,000 have left to hide out in the EU. Ukraine has never had a manpower problem. It has a shortage of men that believe it's worth fighting for. You need to be factually accurate, thank you.

  19. The pathetic political fat cats in Europe are to blame. They're the same as their predecessors that did nothing until it was too late in the lead up to WWI and WWII.

  21. how is it a very surprising move and very expected move? what is that dude smoking? in past weeks to even months, many of youtube "experts" talked about possible attack from the North.
    And Ukraine had almost two years and many billions to build fortifications in the North after they took this territory August 2022.

  24. Putin focused on his reelection and rested his army while the US House was distracted with an embarrassing display of disunity and weakness. Now, barely three weeks after the US Congress committed support to Ukraine, and thusly Eastern Europe, he swiftly moves on Northeastern Ukraine with greater advantage and significantly less risk to his infantry.
    It's up to NATO now but Americans need to realize we need NATO as much as we ever have in the seventy-five years since US president Harry S. Truman signed the accord.

  27. If Russia successfully invades Ukraine, Russia will have a battle zone and a shield to protect Russia. At that time, Russia will conveniently expand its invasion of other countries, countries that fear Russia will be the first target..,

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