It’s with great sadness but not a great shock that I read that two more individuals from the UK have been found dead in Ukraine.
My heart goes out to their family and friends at this time.
I’m taking it that like many others they are amateur humanitarians, as they have other skills from home and don’t belong to any known humanitarian aid organizations.
Unfortunately I’ve seen this time and time again over the last twenty odd years in the conflicts that I’ve worked in.
Individuals with good intentions ending up dead, wounded or kidnapped. When they are reported as missing, there are many professionals that get pressed into looking for them, and therefore endangering their own lives.
The Ukraine war has NO rules…that’s been apparent from the very beginning.
THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND FOR WESTERN ACTORS OF ANY SORT, EVERYONE IS FAIR GAME IN THIS HORRENDOUS WAR.
I even include the media in this, as already too many have found out to their detriment.
It’s not as simple as Ukraine good v Russia bad. We cannot understand the complexities of what goes on within either side. Before the war the Western media was always on Ukraine’ back over corruption at high levels. Well, I’m sure it hasn’t stopped just because the Russians have now attacked them.
I would argue that Ukraine like many Russian border countries have more Russian like behaviour than they do Western. It’s only natural when you live side by side for hundreds of years with many inter marrying between the two countries. Is Ukraine playing by the rules of International law at every level…I very much doubt it? But we won’t get to know, because no one is close enough to the Russian occupied areas to see for themselves, most of the time the Western media is just parroting what the Ukraine press people are telling them…including those over in the East.
My answer (going all the way back to the beginning of this latest conflict between the two) was for Western heads of government to sing from the same song sheet, and tell Putin that if he places one single tank onto Ukraine soil, it will be seen as a serious threat to the West…therefore the West will act in the most serious way applicable.
But no…we have nobody at the top table of our Western countries with an ounce of guts any more. Which is just why the rest of the world can think that it can now do what it wants.
When there’s a big decision to be made like sending tanks…everyone looks to the USA for the nod. The West is not and never has been together…not in history…what makes one think that they can be together now?
Afghanistan was the yard stick. The West through it’s international actors…all of the actors…failed miserably. Even the military generals couldn’t get it together. Certain countries wanting to keep out of “hard” Provinces etc etc.
So…for those great individuals that have the urge to help the vulnerable…please remain safe by staying at home and helping our very own. After all, we have plenty around our own towns and cities that are crying out for help.
Bob Shepherd 
Think the latest meeting of NATO muppets prove just how totally they are decided.
With more infighting than the average WI coffee morning .
3 German parties arguing amongst themselves and no one else willing to give them a kick into line.
By the time they get themselves sorted it will undoubtedly be too late
Great analysis Bob although the keys point of Western gutless politicians is bad news now and for the future. But the truth as you conclude is there are plenty of people many ex military that need help and support back home. Let’s direct efforts there and then elect a tougher bounce to Westminster.
Putin clearly made his plans, not because of the threat, but based on the clear and growing weakness and lack of coherence among NATO, EU, UK, USA etc. And I agree, time and time again we observe and base our opinions on sound bites/media headlines, then dividing the world like the old John Wayne cowboy vs indian movies/ good guys vs bad guys.
But I just wonder how much of our chaos has been ‘encouraged ‘!