Russia is the Virus

Posted on by Thor

“Russia is COVID-22, and the vaccine against it is weapons and sanctions.” This is paraphrasing what Ukrainian President Volodymyr  Zalensky said about Russia’s invasion of Europe. He called on the world and, above all, the most influential countries to ensure the defeat of tyranny.

“It is time to be one hundred percent influential. We can defeat tyranny. Indeed, every one of us – every one – is the leader of our time. We can reliably defend freedom. We can stop blackmail by a person who has no place on our list at all. If we are up to it, then we must do it. Because influence obliges us to do so,” he said in a video message to the Time 100 Gala distributed on the morning of June 9, 2022.

“The Russian army is shelling our cities with artillery and aircraft. The list of children killed by Russian strikes since February 24 already includes more than two hundred and sixty names. And when will this end? In fact, this is the key question. But why is there still no answer? Maybe we are missing something in our true strength? Maybe we are not using all the capacity of our influence and our leadership? And this is my question to the United States, both to the parties and to society; to both Democrats and Republicans; to the Congress and to the President,” Zelensky said, noting that he is “grateful to President Biden for uniting the free world when the Russian threat arose.”

“Hatred is a virus, and it’s even more deadly than COVID-19. It is spread through propaganda. Thanks to the impunity for murderers. Thanks to Russian oil, which is still on the global market. Thanks to money that is still flowing between the global financial system and Russian banks. Thanks to the big companies, which still believe that there is still not enough blood on the money from the Russian market,” he declared.

 

Shadow Warfare

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Forbes reported that 32 Russian helicopters have been shot down so far by Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion of it’s peaceful neighbor. NPR put that number at 125,  the BBC at 80, and Newsweek 77.

 I have been following Ukrainian Officer Starsky on Youtube. His footage of a KA52 Russian helicopter reminded me of a burnt out skeleton of a demonic beast. The KA 52 is touted by Russia as a helicopter that can not be destroyed. Ukrainians conscripts shot down the helicopter in Hostomel.

Non-state militias are set to play a larger and less supervised role as the conflict set to explode in the Donbas of Ukraine. The Wagner Group on the Russian side is a 6,000-strong mercenary force, which is usually based in Africa and is believed to be funded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close links to Vladimir Putin.

About 1,000 Wagner Group fighters have been drafted in as part of the invasion. It was reported at the end of March that members of the group had been tasked with finding and assassinating the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. They failed. Though continuing to cause massive destruction among the civilian population, the Russian forces continue to fail on every front.

Up to 20,000 volunteers, from all over the world, have joined up to fight Russian invaders. The goal of these foreign fighters is to save people and save civilians. The bulk of thee foreign fighters come from the United States, United Kingdom and Georgia, which has also been invaded by Russia. Members of this legion were the first to confront Russians at the airport in Hostomel, in the Kyiv region. The top thing needed in Ukraine is a no fly zone to stop the constant airstrikes and ballistic missiles that are constantly battering civilian populations. Since they can not gain victory on the battle fields, the Russians indiscriminately kill civilians.

The Mosquito and the Elephant

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Drones are rewriting the rules of war. Ukraine is fighting the might of Russia using tiny drones. They act as small mosquitos which sight and help target the lumbering elephant like tanks.

Drone operators were drawn from an air reconnaissance unit, Aerorozvidka, which began eight years ago as a group of volunteer IT specialists and hobbyists designing their own machines that have evolved into an essential element in Ukraine’s successful David-and-Goliath resistance.

A special IT force of 30 soldiers on quad bikes is vital part of Ukraine’s defense, but has to crowdfund for supplies. Lieutenant Colonal Yaroslav Honchar, gave an account of the ambush near the town of Ivankiv that helped stop the vast, lumbering Russian offensive in its tracks.

He said the Ukrainian fighters on quad bikes were able to approach the advancing Russian column at night by riding through the forest on either side of the road. The Ukrainian soldiers were equipped with night vision goggles, sniper rifles, remotely detonated mines, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and others capable of dropping small 1.5kg bombs. “This one little unit in the night destroyed two or three vehicles at the head of this convoy, and after that it was stuck. They stayed there two more nights, and [destroyed] many vehicles,” Honchar said.

Online there is a huge amount of aerial combat footage published by the Ukrainians which underlines the importance of drones to their resistance. “The tank was key at one point,” said John Parachini, a Rand Corporation military researcher. “Now drones may be the more decisive weapons system.” Ukrainians are using about 1,000 drones in the war effort, a military officer estimated. Many are mere “toys,” he said, “but we have what we have.”

“Those shiny tanks are being set ablaze – Bayraktar – that’s the new craze,” go the lyrics of a popular Ukrainian song dedicated to a drone that has become one of many symbols of the nation’s resistance. The drones “are part of the Ukrainian social media campaign that is executed very well by the Ukrainian military and civilians,” he said. Videos of Bayraktar strikes went viral on social media and that is “a great morale booster … a great tactical victory.”

Drones are also being used to target Russian tanks which are then targeted by Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Putin’s Plague

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Putin has unleashed a plague on his own people, Europe and the world. Conflict and infectious disease are intimately entwined.

March 11, 2022 marked two years since the global spread of COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic.

Detection and control of emerging infectious diseases in conflict situations are major challenges due to multiple risk factors known to enhance emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. These include inadequate surveillance and response systems, destroyed infrastructure, collapsed health systems and disruption of disease control programs, and infection control practices even more inadequate than those in resource-poor settings, as well as insecurity and poor coordination among humanitarian agencies.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director- General, reported that so far, WHO has delivered 81 metric tonnes of supplies, and WHO is establishing a pipeline of supplies for health facilities throughout Ukraine, especially in the most affected areas. On March 8, 2022, the World Health Organization delivered five metric tons of medical supplies to Kyiv to support surgical care for 150 trauma patients, and other supplies to manage a range of health conditions for 45,000 people for a month. So far, WHO has verified 18 attacks on health facilities, health workers and ambulances, including ten deaths and 16 injuries. These attacks deprive whole communities of health care.

More than two million people have left Ukraine and WHO is supporting neighboring countries to provide health care for refugees, most of whom are women and children. Some of the main health challenges we see are hypothermia and frostbite, respiratory diseases, lack of treatment for cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and mental health issues. WHO personnel have been deployed to neighboring countries to provide mental health and psycho social support. I thank all my WHO colleagues, and all our partners in Ukraine and its neighbors and all over the world, who continue to work to protect and promote health, even in the most difficult situations.

The only real solution to this situation is peace. WHO continues to call on the Russian Federation to commit to a peaceful resolution to this crisis and to allow safe, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for those in need.  Putin’s Plague of war however continues unabated. The Pandemic has not ended.

 

Sandbagging Culture

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Sandbags are being used to try and protect statues and cultural landmarks in cities all around Ukraine from Russian bombs.

Civilians in Odessa have been packing sandbags since shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 using them as barriers to protect monuments and landmarks in the proudly historic city. Reports from earlier this month described people bursting into song while building barricades across the city, crooning Bobby McFerrin‘s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” along with the national anthem and other patriotic songs.

Residents are particularly proud of their city. Odessa, with its historic buildings and wide boulevards, was a favorite holiday destination for people across the Soviet Union. It is also where a 1905 uprising, supported by mutineer Russian sailors, was violently crushed by Tsarists forces – scenes which director Sergei Eisenstein famously set on Odessa’s giant stairway in his 1925 film Battleship Potemkin.

Odessa has so far escaped shelling but its one million people are nervously waiting to see if their historic city will be next to suffer the heavy Russian bombardment after Kyiv and Mariupol to the north and east. Some welders made steel spikes called “hedgehogs” along with razor wire to stop military vehicles.

Ukraine had begged NATO for a no fly zone but the response has been a consistent, Fuck no, Russia has nukes, we don’t want to risk upsetting Putin.

Ukraine has lost its ability to vaccinate it’s population against COVID due to the invasion. 35% of the population had been vaccinated with 2 doses prior to the start of the war. Only 2% of the population had received a booster dose. At least 9 health care facilities have been bombed. Those that remain open are overwhelmed with trauma patients. With supply shortages, any patients with COVID are unlikely to get proper treatment. Living conditions in bomb shelters and refugee camps are a breading ground for the spread of the virus. It is also very possible that countries who are taking in refugees will see a spike in cases. Infectious disease and war amount to a perfect storm for death and destruction.

David and Goliath

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The biblical story of David and Goliath denotes an underdog situation, in which a smaller,  opponent faces a much bigger, stronger adversary. That is certainly the case with Ukraine as they battle the nuclear giant of Russia. I was looking at Soviet era war posters and wanted to do a painting inspired by their losses.

Ukraine is now reporting victories in their counter offensive against the invading Russians around the capitol city of Kiev. Vitali Klitschko, mayor of the capital city, said on March 23, 2022 that Ukrainian forces had taken back most of Irpin, a northwestern suburb of Kiev. Klitschko also said a battle was ongoing for the village of Liutizh, 20 miles to the north, and confirmed the retaking of Makariv, west of Kyiv, on March 22, 2022.

Ukraine claims to have killed 6 Russian Generals, they destroyed a Russian naval ship, numbers of Russian dead range from 7.000 to 15,000 according to a NATO official. A Ukrainian man whose house was destroyed also lost his daughter in the blast. He said, “I blame Putin, If I had him in my hands, I’d butcher him like a goat,”

The southern port city of Mariupol however has has become the most heavily bombed and damaged city in Ukraine’s war with Russia, having suffered the brunt of sustained Russian attacks. Capturing this city would create a land bridge from Russia to Crimea. If Mariupol is capture then Russia would control 80% of Ukraine’s coastline cutting off trade by sea. The city is under siege. Over 90% of the city is leveled. They want to starve and bomb the city into submission. Ukraine has vowed to defend the city down to the last soldier. 200,000 civilians are stuck in the cross fire. Mass graves are being dug on the roadsides. As NATO and America tip toe, World War III has begun.

What Virus?

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A pandemic becomes endemic largely when politicians no longer see any political gain from arguing about it and when the media gets tired of covering the carnage. Americans have become comfortable with about 1000 deaths a day.

Russia has 358,000 reported deaths due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. That is likely a vast underestimate of the true number since Russia wants to project strength as it goes to war.  When discussing Russian deaths due to the war, a Russin military commentator said, “It’s almost a state secret,” the commentator asked not to be quoted by name. “We don’t know exactly [how many people have died] … at the given moment, it’s better to discuss other questions.” On March 21, 2022, The Russian defense ministry data showed 9,861 Russian soldiers had been killed in action. That is about 333 Russian deaths per day. On March 22, 2022 there were 472 death due to COVID-19 reported in Russia.

In Ukraine the reported deaths due to COVID-19 have literally dropped to zero since the invasion by Russia since there is no working health care system to track the numbers. The only deaths being reported are those who are being shot and blown apart by Russian bombs. Prior to the invasion, Ukraine reported 112,000 deaths due to COVID-19.

BA.2 is ripping through Europe and now makes up about 30%  of the cases in America. It is 30% more infectious than Omicron. That makes BA.2 as infectious as the measles. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.

Prior infection from Omicron has built up the immunity for those who were not vaccinated. It has inoculated many of the stupid and stubborn. About 75% of the American population has been previously infected or has been fully vaccinated. These people are about 85% protected against severe disease and hospitalization. The other 25% of Americans are highly vulnerable to the next wave coming in the following weeks. Anyone over 65 is is more vulnerable to hospitalization and possible death. Basically everyone will be exposed to BA.2 and 25% of Americans are vulnerable simply because they refused to get vaccinated. People will die needlessly based on a misguided choice. In Ukraine no one has a choice. The bombs are indiscriminate and can kill anyone at any time. Americans do not understand that level of uncertainty and many choose to ignore it.

Ignorance is the Biggest Crime

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I was listening to an interview with a Ukrainian health care worker and this phrase struck me the hardest, “Ignorance is the Greatest Crime.” It should be obvious to anyone that the pandemic is not over, yet many go about life as normal. Hospitalizations are dropping, but nations especially in Asia are experiencing renewed spikes in cases.

In Ukraine the Russians will never stop killing women and children until all allied nations enter the fight. World War III has already begun. It took the United States two and a half years before they decided to enter World War I.  It took two years before Pearl Harbor launched America into  WWII. Isolationists in Washington will drag their heals and exhaust all options before fully entering the conflict.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working hard to send 36 metric tons of medial supplies to Ukraine. They will need to raise $45 million for Ukraine and $12.5 million to support neighboring countries providing refugee care. Hospitals and healthcare workers are being attacked in Ukraine. Supply lines are under threat of bombardment.

The ignorant sit idly by as the water begins to slowly boil. By the time they realize the danger, it will be too late.

Stealth

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Multiple countries in Europe are showing an increase in infections, fueling concerns about the possibility of another global surge. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy were among those that saw an upswing in cases this past week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The European surge also comes alongside conflict in Ukraine after the Russian invasion, leading to rising concerns about a public health crisis in the region sparked by densely crowded shelters and forced travel across borders. The WHO said earlier this month that the conflict may cause a surge in infections, straining scarce resources and contributing to more suffering and death.

BA.2, known as the “stealth” omicron variant, is making up a growing number of cases in some countries, and some studies show that it may be up to 30% more transmissible than the original omicron variant. China just locked down 52.5 million people to try and stop the spread of BA.2 stealth omicron. On March 15, China issued city-wide lockdowns in place in Shenzhen, affecting 12.5 million people, Dongguan (10.5 million), and Langfang (5.5 million), and locked down the whole province of Jilin, affecting 24 million. That’s 52.5 million people.

Cases of BA.2 made up an estimated 11.6% percent of cases in the United States as of March 5, 2022 according to CDC data, up from 6.6% February 26, 2022. In the United States hospitalizations are on the decline but this country has always lead the world in the number of cases and deaths. Only 44.3% of the U.S. population has received a booster dose so this country is ripe for another surge.

Omicron which was supposed to be a “milder” variant has killed more people than the Delta variant. World wide the number of deaths from COVID-19 is over 6 million. A new study found that the actual number may be 3 times higher, up to 18 million dead.