Aleksey Navalny was a fearless advocate for his beliefs who died unbroken by the tyranny he opposed. He fought corruption, inspired millions and never wavered in his insistence on free expression, the rule of law, and a Russia that is accountable to the people and not a dictator. He died in unyielding defense of his vision of a better future for his country - a vision, and a courageous example, that will never die.
Battle for Avdeevka: The view from Donetsk (Part 1)
Sputnik correspondent Russell Bentley (@TXDPR) writes:
I feel the liberation of Avdeevka not only in my bones, but in my soul. Not only have I lived in Donetsk under shelling from the Nazi strongpoint of Avdeevka for almost ten years, but my first military position, back in December 2014, was in Yasynuvata, just across the Donetsk - Gorlovka Highway from Avdeevka.
In 2016, I was in Avdeevka, when DPR forces pushed back a Ukrainian advance into what was then the ‘Grey Zone’ residential area of Avdeevka, on the north side of the highway. Shortly after my visit, the entire residential area of Avdeevka was razed to the ground by Ukrainian artillery, and until recently, everything north of the highway has been under control of Banderastan. In the summer of 2017, I served on the very front line of the Avdeevka front. One side of the highway was ours (DPR), the other side belonged to the Ukrainians. I could look through a periscope and see Ukrainian flags flying a few hundred meters away.
Boost us! (
https://t.me/geopolitics_live?boost) | Subscribe to @geopolitics_live
Battle for Avdeevka: The view from Donetsk (Part 2) by Texas Bentley
Most of the shelling of Donetsk civilian areas over the last ten years have come from Avdeevka, including the recent mass murder of 27 civilians at the Tekstilshchik Market, in my neighborhood, less than a month ago. Avdeevka was known as an ‘impregnable fortress’ of Nazi power, and yet I have lived to see it begin to fall. Many of my friends, both civilian and military, did not. But those of us who lived, swore a solemn oath on their blood that we would see it fall, or die like they did, trying. That's why I say I feel this victory in my soul, because I know my friends feel it in theirs today, even from another world. And today, we kept that promise.
And I feel it in my bones today, too, because today, instead of the steady rumble of Avdeevka artillery, there was silence. There hasn't been any shelling of Donetsk today, at all. Today, the Nazis who have bombed us for almost a decade from Avdeevka are too busy running for their lives to target civilians or anyone else. My wife even commented today, ‘It's been really quiet today.’ So far, from experience, we know that every time we have a significant military victory, the Nazis take it out on our civilians. The Nazis have HIMARS, CAESAR and TOCHKA-U, that can target Donetsk from far behind Avdeevka, and we know what kind of atrocities to expect in the coming days. But we are not going anywhere, we are ready to face whatever comes. We know there will be retribution by the nazis against civilians soon. But we stand fast, civilians and soldiers, ready to move forward, for the future of humanity.”
Boost us! (
https://t.me/geopolitics_live?boost) | Subscribe to @geopolitics_live
www.mediaite.com
justthenews.com
www.zerohedge.com
nypost.com
pagesix.com
gettr.com
www.libsoftiktok.com
thehill.com
