Nepal has stopped issuing permits to its citizens to work in Russia after at least 10 Nepali soldiers were killed while serving in the Russian army, and about 100 are reported to be missing.

Nepal has asked Russia not to recruit its citizens in the Russian army and to immediately send all Nepali soldiers back to home and compensate the families of those killed.

But it did not stop Russia and the police in Nepal detained 10 people last month over allegations that they sent unemployed youths for illegal recruitment into the Russian army after charging them huge amounts of money for travel visas.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nepal-halts-work-permits-russia-ukraine-after-soldiers-killed-2024-01-05/

Reuters

Nepal halts work permits for Russia, Ukraine after soldiers killed

Nepal has stopped issuing permits to its citizens to work in Russia and Ukraine until further notice, an official said on Friday, after at least 10 Nepali soldiers were killed while serving in the Russian army.

I have been avoiding the issue of the blockade on the Polish-Ukrainian border for a long time, hoping the situation would resolve diplomatically.

The text below is an attempt to show the situation from the Ukrainian point of view. I do not intend or have ever intended to diminish the aid and support that Poland has given and continues provide for Ukraine and Ukrainians. I trust that the relations of our two countries are mature enough to reach agreement on complicated matters, as well. We have a common enemy - Russia, and must act not to let Russia win. The one stakeholder who is definitely happy with the current situation is the Kremlin.

The so-called "grain blockade" of Ukraine by Polish farmers has started in April of 2023, and it has caused a domino effect in other Eastern European countries. A series of diplomatic crises followed.

On November 6, 2023, a group of Polish drivers (with silent agreement of the Polish authorities) has blocked the movement of cargo through the Ukrainian border.

There were hopes that these issues will be resolved after a new government takes over in Poland.

However, what is currently happening at the Polish-Ukrainian border is, in fact, a full-scale trade war against Ukraine. It lasts for a long time already and the situation is getting worse.

The way I see it, the Ukrainian border has become a target and a playing card that is used in Poland's internal politics in the context of elections. The border is used as a pressure mechanism on the government by various players.

This has catastrophic consequences for Ukraine - the border is blocked. Ukraine cannot do business with Europe. The budget of a country at war suffers huge losses.

Moreover, the blockade hurts Ukrainian Armed Forces - despite promises not to hinder military and humanitarian cargo, reality is often different.

Poland has done so much for Ukraine. Polish people are our true friends, I'm certain of that.

But the blockade is becoming a serious challenge. If this issue is not solved ASAP, immediately, the challenge can turn into a catastrophe.

Unblocking the borders will serve in Poland's interests. This is what the Euro Commission calls on Warsaw to do, what is in line with the interests of the majority of Polish business.

"There is no free Poland without a free Ukraine" is a quote attributed to Józef Piłsudski. I believe it to be true.

Poland rose above and beyond when the full-scale invasion began, and Ukraine will never forget that. We have faith in our Polish partners, allies, friends.

https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1743309522616099266?t=oWdUNn622Px4EctONOr-Lg&s=19

"Russia has already received several dozen ballistic missiles from North Korea and is planning to buy short-range ballistic missiles from Iran," - WSJ. In today's world, while democracies observe procedure and calculate risks, dictatorships act. Russia has…

A resident of Zaporizhzhia, which was attacked by Russians yesterday, tearfully tells about the deaths of her neighbors.

Deepest condolences.

📹: weukrainetv/Instagram

Instead of a thousand words.

The aftermath of the Russian missile attack on Ukraine.

📷: SESU

Instead of a thousand words.

Ukrainian Defenders send Christmas greetings from the hottest spots on the frontlines!

Our Warriors performed four legendary songs - true symbols of the holidays. In each of them they replaced a few words. For example, in John Lennon's song, instead of "war is over", they sang "war is not over".

The video features soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Remez, Inna Korolenko, Dmytro Romanchuk, Artur Temchenko, Mykhailo Oliinyk, Dmytro Dudko, Svitlana Cherednychenko, Viktoria Chudakovska, Iryna Kosovska and paramedic of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army Mykhailo Adamchak.

The video was filmed in a dugout in the Bakhmut direction, against the backdrop of civilian objects destroyed by the Russian occupiers - a house of culture and a railway station in Lyman, schools and a gas station in Kostiantynivka, 15 km from the front line.

Glory to our Heroes!

Video: United24

Friends,

Wonderful news!

I just learned that the Mayor of London has decided to support the idea of sending 4x4s and other vehicles that would otherwise be scrapped to Ukraine.

"Sadiq Khan has asked the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, to enable Londoners, and others across the country, to donate suitable vehicles to Ukraine through scrappage schemes," The Independent reports.

I am so grateful to everyone who wrote letters to British officials, signed petitions and put in efforts to turn this around - so many of you worked hard to make this happen.

Thank you! Thank you for standing with Ukraine!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/mayor-mark-harper-sadiq-khan-london-ukraine-b2468670.html

The Independent

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan backs cars for Ukraine scheme in apparent U-turn

Mr Khan had previously made it clear he did not believe altering the Ulez scheme for exporting vehicles would be possible.

A well-known Ukrainian documentary photographer Vlada Liberova, who works on the frontlines with her husband, was wounded yesterday by the Russians while traveling towards Avdiivka.

Vlada is in great pain but should make a full recovery, thankfully.

📹: libkos/Instagram

Olena Vladymyrets, 94, from Vinnytsia, and her daughter Nina made 4,000 trench candles for our Defenders.

The women make trench candles at home, and volunteers provide the materials.

Olena survived two wars and the Holodomor. She wants there to be no need for trench candles.

📹: Suspilne