Invasion Day +34 Great start to 'Hogswards', the worthy president and a Ukrainian rock star: read more about these brilliantly humbling nominations in the letters below. Meanwhile, how can we ever believe anything Putin says, ever again? Do not be fooled by his latest pronouncements, they are, as ever, likely to be cynical, strategic and duplicitous. Putin masks his effective retreat in the northern battlefields by stating he now only wants the Donbas, a move designed to lower Ukraine's defences in Kyiv and save his own now much-hated face.
Splits in the Russian general staff are now being reported, reports from the front that depict the Russian disaster have been withheld from Putin because of the general's fear of his revenge upon them. Front line mutiny appears not to have been isolated as we previously highlighted but much more widespread with Russian troops fleeing, burning their equipment and defecting to Ukrainian positions as their morale reaches below rock bottom. But Putin will care nothing for their plight and even less for those he continues to slaughter by bomb and missile in his on-going war crime. Now is not the time to grant Putin any concessions whatsoever and it is the time for the west to really stand up and be counted. Putin will deceive, lie and cheat to his last breath, these are the gifts his parents gave him.
Putin's own war chest estimates of $640 billion from the start of his war with daily war costs of $14 billion mean if the estimates he made himself are correct, then he only has eleven more days of war finance available. Then he will need to eat into the Russian domestic economy. And that will hurt. Time is running out for Putin. The Russian rouble stabilised yesterday with analysts stating this is because existing sanctions have forced Putin to divert oil and gas revenues to shoring up the Russian economy rather than replenishing his war chests. What is really needed is for the oil and gas to be turned off until the war ends. And only be turned on again as a condition of peace. The west can eat salad for a while surely?
Keep the faith Ukraine, we know you will: we stand with you. You have fought for us all. We salute you.
Today's Letters:
From Bill Petherick, Scotland.
Dear Hoggy,
A ‘Hogswards’ nomination for Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
(Hogwards No.2)
What can you say in two hundred words that you know you could write a book on?
Simple.
Choose someone you feel is worth nominating and explain.
My nomination goes to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Why?
In every walk of life be it business, home life or running a country to me you need Chiefs and Indians, and both need each other. However, the most important thing of all is you need a great leader and that is why I choose Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be many worthwhile candidates within the Ukraine to be singled out amongst those who have stood defiant against all the odds.
Photo courtesy of Ukrainian Government and duly acknowledged.
Zelenskyy has shown his leadership qualities. He has stood up and been counted, stood tall and defied the might of the opposing army. Charismatic, loyal and a believer in both his people, and his country. He epitomises courage, concern for his fellow Ukrainians and a belief in a better world.
I am Scottish, but I would have no hesitancy in standing beside a man whose beliefs I share.
Taking poetic licence and changing the words to a famous Scottish Song written by Robert Burns, I write,
Ukrainians who have with Zelensky bled,
Ukrainians who others have led,
Welcome to your gory bed, or to victory.
Now’s the day and now’s the hour,
See approach proud Putin’s power,
Chains and slavery.
Free men stand and free men fall,
Free men prepared to give their all,
But you will be FREE.
Best wishes for this great blog to continue Hoggy,
Bill Petherick,
Scotland
Dear Bill,
Perhaps the greatest of all possible nominations, thank you for it. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a worthy recipient of a 'Hogsward' and if you can spread some sunflowers in his honour in an appropriate Scottish location we will publish the locale here.
Great writing too Bill, we are all hugely inspired by you here and the Burns adaptation! Brilliant.
Please keep writing! You are helping to bring hope to many.
Hoggy
Dear Hoggy,
Rock on Slava! I Nominate Svyatoslav Vakarchuk for a Hogsward
(Hogsward No.3)
As I have been a guitarist in rock and blues bands over many years, I would like to nominate Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, of the frontman and lead singer of the band Okean Elzy for a 'Hogsward'. He is Ukraine’s greatest rock star and now a hero of the war.
Photo and facts courtesy of Julyssa Lopez in ‘Rolling Stone’magazine. With many thanks to both.
Now this guy is really amazing, he and his band are a part of Ukraine’s incredible resistance story and has taken a lead role in pushing for democratic reform since the Orange Revolution of 2004-2005. He lent his support to the 2014 Euromaidan demonstrations against the occupation of the Crimea and was a deputy in Ukraine’s parliament.
He was already a legend in Ukraine but now he has taken a major lead as a soldier and as a relief coordinator (he has become a lieutenant in the army) . Since he woke up in Kyiv to hear the first missiles landing on the 24th February, minutes after Putin’s declaration of war, Slava as he is known in Ukraine, started helping people out of Kyiv and to safety.
Since then, he has been travelling from city to city with his team visiting troops and bringing supplies to the front lines. His presence and fame have boosted morale for everyone in Ukraine. He said to Rolling Stone magazine ‘ I’m a big patriot of Ukraine, and I’ve always loved my people, but even I was surprised, Ukrainians demonstrated an 100 point-level of courage, the ability to fight, to resist. Ukraine, I think, is the greatest nation in the world now.’
Slava is a great defender and inspirer of his people and many owe their safety to him, the band, and the team he has built around him. Slava Ukraini!
He is some guy and well worthy of a ‘Hogsward’ in my opinion. I am in Switzerland right now but I will find some sunflower seeds and scatter them like the sounds of music all over these alpine meadows for him and for Ukraine.
Best for the blog Hoggy!
Mark
Mark Thompson, writer and musician.
Dear Mark,
A great nomination, thank you. I was not aware of him or his amazing contribution so thank you for highlighting him and his fantastically inspiring work. I hope one day all our nominations can be brought to the attention of the recipients for the hope and the inspiration they are bringing to the world. They are modern legends in the making.
A 'Hogsward' might not seem much but it is sincere and a sure sign of our belief in a free Ukraine.
Maybe one day we can say thank you to them all personally. In that free Ukraine.
Have a great trip in Switzerland.
Hoggy
Please keep your letters and nominations for 'Hogswards' coming in: you are all showing how much you care and are standing with Ukraine: they need us all. Hoggy.
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