Dnipro, New Years Eve, 31 Dec
It's been a cold start to winter here, but as with last year the past week or two haven't seen much snow, and temps around zero, but not as cold as it soon will be.
Ambulance traffic is intense, I am helping evacution driving 3 days a week atm, as it's all I can spare with a busy family here, but there is a huge shortage of transport and drivers to keep up with the need to evacuate and xfer wounded soldiers.
Military traffic has increased this past fortnight, it always does a couple weeks before the West announces more weapons for Ukraine, but it's still well below the past couple of years. Soldiers everywhere look exhausted, and those I speak to have very low morale. It breaks my heart sometimes hearing the despair in their voices.
The last year has been a hard one in Ukraine, and we come to the end of the year with no certainty that 2025 will be any better, but despite the destruction and devastation that has taken place over the last 12 months, things can most certainly get worse.
I cannot see how Ukraine can ever be a viable country again, it's future to me as an independent state is sealed. It will never be economically viable now given the Territory and population annexed by Russia already. And that will continue to expand. I know that this is also known by Zelenksy and his clown masters, and I think its their plan. Everyone knows Russia will end up controlling Ukraine, so wreak as much damage as you can is the plan. Zelensky and his cabal will flee at the last moment with the tens of billions they have stolen, seeking exile in the west. Their lives will be short.
Ukrainians are tired, and mentally exhausted. It's difficult to understand how the uncertainty and worry can effect you until you have been through a time like this, but it is debilitating for those with so little who have no idea what their future holds. Everyone here has family who are casualties of this war. Everyone knows family and friends who have been effected by this conflict and whose lives have been changed forever.
I have lived a full life, and we can leave at any time, to any one of my homes and get on with life uneffected by what has taken place here. However, I fear the death and destruction will follow us, as I do not see a happy ending to the conflict here any more.
My last hope had been Trump, but as with his first presidency he is already showing he is incapable of making decisions that implement the promises be makes. He may not be from the political class, but he sure as hell mimmicks them well.
Anyhow, in Ukraine little has changed. People have food, fuel, some electricity, and most will celebrate having got through another year tonight. In fact, the shops were busy this past couple of days. There is a surprising amount of money still around, but soldiers pays are much better than civilian, and whilst the West pays, i guess they also get paid. Many give a portion of their salary to their commanders to keep them away from the front lines, many still get to stay at home with their families if they are prepared to pay.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers who stand the line will not have a peaceful night, or have cause to celebrate, and some of those are my friends. Ironically that is true of both sides, as I have many friends from Donbass who are standing on the other side of the line.
To all of those locals members I hope you have a lovely night, and a moment or two of reflection as the world marches lockstep towards its destiny. Global war I fear is coming, I don't really see a way to avert it, and I hope my pessimism is proven wrong, but the drums beating are the drums of war, not of peace.
To The Duran, I appreciate your channel, for those of us in the midst of this geopolitical circus this channel helps keep me sane, by reminding me daily that I am not crazy, that it is the world which is. For us this channel isn't entertainment, it's reassurance and sanity.
Like most Ukrainians, we will celebrate the new year on Moscow time and tune in to the concert in Moscow, and then Putins speach. This year, as it always is, it will be a masterful speach offering hope, and renewal. We will then switch to listen to the coke heads address, and count the number of times he says Putin and Russia. This year, as always the clown will preach lies and destruction, the difference is that no one in Ukraine believe him anymore, and all will be mocking him.
For everyone I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year. Please, may it bring peace, if nothing else, stop the killing, stop the destruction. For this to happen the West must stop the lies, which as we all know won't happen, so I suspect 2025 is going to be a rough year for us all.
