The Morning Dispatch: A Nuclear Plant Scare in Ukraine

Plus: A look at the embattled nation's short-term and long-term prospects of entering the European Union.

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Happy Friday! It’s NFL draft season, which means it’s time for a bunch of old men to go on TV and talk about the size of a 23-year-old kid’s hands.

Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories

  • The second round of ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine came and went Thursday without a resolution to the broader conflict, but the two sides claimed they agreed to establish “humanitarian corridors” and “possible temporary ceasefires” to allow Ukrainian civilians to evacuate “military clash zones.” A senior U.S. defense official told reporters Thursday Russian ground forces remain “largely stalled” in northern Ukraine while the bombardment of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv persists. The official acknowledged reports that Russian forces had captured the southern city of Kherson, but could not independently verify them. Ukrainian air and missile defense systems remain operational, and Ukrainian forces reportedly killed Maj. Gen. Andrey Sukhovetsky, the commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne Division.

  • German officials confirmed Thursday Germany will add 2,700 Soviet-made surface-to-air rockets to its arms shipment to Ukraine. It had already approved sending 1,000 anti-tank missiles and 500 Stingers earlier this week.

  • The Biden administration announced another tranche of sanctions on Thursday, targeting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, dozens of additional Russian oligarchs and their families, and dozens of entities and individuals who have played “central roles” in the Kremlin’s efforts to “spread disinformation and influence perceptions as a part of their invasion of Ukraine.”

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  1. Kgfroehle

    Henry V - Speech - Eve of Saint Crispin's Day
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM&t=12s

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    DANA A. NICHOLS

    Sorry for a long ask, but please see if I have this basically correct: an indefensible day occurred at my country’s capitol, witnessed in real-time by an incredulous, crystal-focused world, and at day’s end, all for nothing. A contested election spins some citizens into a rabid disruption of our nationwide election process. State and federal laws are under fire. *DUE PROCESS REQUIRED HERE.* INSURRECTION FOLLOWS: capitol breach, assaults, death, Oath Keeper manifestos, “hang ‘em” threats,” questionable elected official conduct — *ALL DUE PROCESS REQUIRED HERE.* Once in motion, this insurrection proved itself completely chaotic and without serious intent or objective — other than to destroy our capitol by thug conduct. *DUE PROCESS REQUIRED HERE.* An obviously unorganized, Trump-following crowd encountered him on a side street, where the ex-POTUS now chatted them into a focused crowd — when Trump making his “let’s walk down the street and join the crowd” direction toward the by-then riot at our Capitol — his ability to do so being his political popularity. This seems extremely culpable
    by way of his cultivating an escalation of a rioting crowd… from which he simply way to safety, while the crowd went further into it. *Due process required.* Trump then disappearing into his safety net is up to a political knife fight, then, I guess. In 1812, when the British garrison was sent to burn the Capitol. They arrived, followed their orders straightaway, spent no further time, and fled what would be lethal vengeance. Period. It was also understood that any American official they caught would be summarily executed. Simple, war, objective accomplished and


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    Sgrantsm

    McLaughlin is probably right, much as I hate to think it about Zelensky since his direct appeals have been so clear and compelling - "I need ammo, not a ride." It'll be a long time before we know what was true and what was spun. Perhaps how Churchill mislead is known now. Anybody?

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  4. Anonymous

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      Sgrantsm

      He's being active as an anti-vax judge. I didn't think judges could be anti-vax. Isn't that letting his personal beliefs get involved in his rulings? Isn't that what judges are NOT supposed to do? "The facts and the law", right?

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      1. Anonymous

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          Sgrantsm

          Isn't there some judicial misconduct charge like there's a prosecutorial misconduct charge?

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          1. Anonymous

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      Dave in NOLA

      I’m glad I saw it. Thank you.

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    Chris

    I must draw a fuzzy and hair-splitting line. I support any statements that are 1) true, and 2) rally the Ukranians to fight and their allies to support.

    By necessity, especially in the Twitter era, these statements may be short and simplified. Simple is fine. False is not fine.

    I'll give the Ukrainians the BOTD when they overestimated the danger from Russia's attack on the nuclear plant. I don't know many technical details about nuclear plants, and I doubt Zelenskyy does either. I'm glad they're designed better these days - that's scary stuff.

    I also hope, whenever the fighting ends, the Ukranians are willing to be honest about the small Nazi presence that Putin is blowing out of proportion. I understand the government's decision to accept their assistance during the Donbass conflict and would probably support it if I were Ukrainian. But there would be an asterisk.

    If/when the Ukraine expels the Russians, it will be a chance for them to turn a new page on their internal divisions. Lets hope they can rightly praise the Azovs for their brave defense of Ukraine AND criticize their poisonous Nazi influence.

    To isolate the Azovs and ignore their valiant contribution to the war effort would only radicalize and entrench them further. To elevate them as heroes above reproach will only serve to justify the cause of the Donbass separatists.

    Given the intensity and stupidity of the conflict between the woke left and the alt-right in the US (undeniably a healthier democracy than Ukraine) solving the divisions within Ukraine will require a fine touch indeed.

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    Citizen60

    Is “propaganda” essential in war? Sure seems so, at least in the 20th and 21st Centuries. So kudos to the Ukrainians for using it wisely against a much bigger cyber foe.

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    Aylene Wright

    Although I have appreciated the Kyiv Independent coverage so far, I just read this Tweet that seemed pretty propaganda-ish:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1499675657923706880

    "The Times: Volodymyr Zelensky survives 3 assassination attempts in days.

    Two different groups have been sent to kill him, yet both have been thwarted by anti-war elements within Russia’s Federal Security Service, according to the Times' sources."

    This one even more so:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1499675802912313345

    "A source close to the Wagner mercenary group told the Times it was “eerie” how well briefed Zelensky’s security team appeared to be."

    And the replies to the Tweets that are mostly people assuming that Zelenskyy is getting intelligence from a mole in Russia close to Putin, show that if this IS propaganda, it achieved its objective.

    And assuming Putin himself eventually hears a version of this, that he basically has traitors in his midst foiling his plans, and actually believes it or at least has it add to his existing paranoia about threats to his person, it can even be considered psy-ops.

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  8. Pohl

    QOTD:Lying is corrosive, and unnecessary, especially when the truth can be expressed in a sufficiently horrible way for propaganda uses. Deception, evasion, ambiguity, and the like are another story and feature in all wars.

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      Sgrantsm

      Just want to point out that McLughlin defined propaganda as "spin, narrative, framing" and "emotionally manipulative, oversimplified, and frequently misleading". He never said "lying."

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      1. Pohl

        True enough, but I wasn’t replying to McLaughlin but making a general observation about the morality of lying, which strikes me as at the heart of the matter. Why else would the QOTD ask if I’m bothered by Ukraine’s spin? It also starts by mentioning inflated casualty reports, so I could add that these again are either lies or errors, and I do find the former more troubling.
        But all of this pales in comparison to the brute facts on the ground that speak for themselves. And honest spin would be totally beside the point were it not for the fact that it can still possibly draw other countries into the war if it becomes too reckless. So, I listen to Zelensky, but not for a news source.

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          Sgrantsm

          Oh, I thought we were talking about McLoughlin's article. Agree - one doesn't listent to Zelensky for news reporting.

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    Jesse R.

    In response to the Let Us Know, I will say that yes, any misinformation from Ukraine does bother me. I don’t want us or other actors to fall victim to it and make tactical or strategic mistakes/miscalculations. We let misinformation from rebels in Libya influence our decision to initiate a no fly zone in Libya and look how that turned out.

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  10. Steve Kappler

    Propaganda is propaganda! We use it regularly between & among political parties. I have Christian brothers & sisters who remain convinced that Trump is God’s champion sent to “make America great again “, never mind that would mean going back to the segregationist years. What they mean is “we Whites are feeling threatened & Trump will make us supreme again!” Never mind that is totally counter to what Jesus preached. So in answer to the question of propaganda, yes it’s being used all the time, & yes, propaganda must be countered with propaganda. Imagine what the Western world would be doing right now (little or nothing) if we were being fed only Putin’s lies! All power to Mr. Zelinsky for painting another picture for us to consider!
    Rev. Steve Kappler

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      Sgrantsm

      Propaganda must be countered with propaganda? No. That's not what high school students are learning now. They are learning to be discerning consumers of information. See https://www.prestwickhouse.com/reading/techniques-of-propaganda-and-persuasion for an example curriculum.

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