Dnipro Tuesday evening, 22 August

Countdown minus 2 days to independence day here, everyone is on tenderhooks nervously awaiting whatever the court jester has in store. People are starting to get angry now, no one can see anyway our forces can break through, and increasingly people are talking about the need to stop this insanity. More and more stories about sons of political and economic leaders being overseas are circulating, along with the constant exposure of corrupt practices. All over Ukraine conscription centres were raided by police, hundreds of them. This is only for Western consumption though, Ukrainians know how corruption works here, and it will never be stopped.

The past few days have seen very large numbers of ambulance traffic in and out of Dnipro on Kharkiv/Donbass fronts, same fuel trucks, same munitions and resupply columns. Saw a serious looking azov regiment on a run last Friday, first in a while, heading towards the front. I detest them, passionately, they are the reason this country is being destroyed, their hatred of all things russian overrides any love for Ukraine, Poland can have them all, and good luck. But, they want to fight, so good luck to them, but leave those who don't want to alone, people have a right to live, everyone, including those in Donbas who havent known peace for over 9 years.

Looking around the world right now is depressing, and frightening to anyone with an ounce of intelligence.

Ps, I should have mentioned, summer is over, trees changing colour now, evenings noticibly cooler, to me it looks like it is going to be a long, cold winter