Medvedev Fires Back at Western Punishment Plans
In a striking video posted on Telegram, former Russian presidential hopeful Dmitry Medvedev—now the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council—warned that any attempt by the West to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine could threaten the very survival of humanity. According to Medvedev, piling sanctions on a nuclear superpower is a risky move that could ignite a global catastrophe, especially as the war drags on and blights cities with rubble and displaces thousands.
The Nuclear Angle
Russia’s invasion on February 24 was a flashback to the tense Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when nations shouted about an impending nuclear showdown. Today, the United States and Russia alone account for about 90 % of the world’s nuclear arsenal, each holding roughly 4,000 warheads. Medvedev argues that punishing a nation that could unleash such firepower is almost absurd—and potentially a recipe for disaster.
Why He’s Not Playing Straight
- The U.S. is presented as an imperial behemoth that has left a bloody trail across history—from the tragic death of Native Americans to the atomic drops on Japan, and wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and beyond.
- Medvedev decries the United States’ “spilled blood” across continents, suggesting that their own global conflicts could erupt into nuclear blowups if they continue to hammer Russia.
- He claims that any international court or tribunal trying to investigate Russia’s actions in Ukraine would be futile and could spiral into worldwide devastation.
The “Special Military Operation” Narrative
Putin’s “Special Military Operation” was billed as a campaign to de‑militarise Ukraine, purge dangerous nationalists, and protect Russian‑speaking communities. But the West calls it an imperial land grab that has roiled the continent in the biggest post‑World War II conflict.
After failing to seize Kyiv, Russia has turned to a war of attrition in the Donbas—an industrial heartland where both Donetsk and Luhansk view themselves as “self‑proclaimed” republics with Moscow’s backing.
What’s the Bottom Line?
Medvedev’s message is clear: slap a country down‑size its nuclear arsenal with sanctions and empire‑level orders, and you risk a global firestorm. History has taught us that the big guns—both literally and figuratively—must be handled with the utmost care. The fight continues, and the question remains whether the West can navigate this minefield without blowing up the whole continent.
Heavy shelling
Ukraine Keeps the Fight Going in Donetsk
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian army announced that it has so far stopped a big Russian push into northern Donetsk. But the pressure is only getting stronger—heavy shells are rattling the city of Sloviansk and a heap of nearby towns.
What the Russians Are Trying to Do
- Bombing several Ukrainian towns with gear that would let ground troops roll south and close in on Sloviansk.
- Moving forward, but getting shoved back by Ukrainian soldiers, then forced to retreat with some losses.
- Going after two settlements on the way to Kramatorsk (south of Sloviansk), and trying to seize the main highway that links Luhansk and Donetsk.
Luhansk Governor Keeps the Big Picture Clear
Serhiy Gaidai told Ukrainian TV that the Russians are being held back on the Luhansk/Donetsk border. He added that Luhansk hasn’t been fully taken yet and that Russia has suffered “colossal losses.” “They’ll keep trying to crush Sloviansk and Bakhmut,” he said—no doubt.
Sloviansk’s Mayor Sets the Scene
Vadym Lyakh, mayor of Sloviansk, said the city has been under shelling for the past two weeks. “The mood is tense,” he told a video briefing, adding that 17 locals have been killed since Feb. 24.
Russia’s Defense Ministry’s Spin
Russia claims it doesn’t target civilians and says it’s using high‑precision weapons to clear military threats. Meanwhile, Ukraine keeps calling on the West for more gear to push back the invasion that has cost thousands of lives, displaced millions, and wrecked whole cities.
Zelenskiy’s Message to the World
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke in his nightly video message: “Finally, Western artillery is getting powerful—thanks to our partners, the accuracy is exactly what we need.” This is his take on why the war is still hard, but not hopeless.
‘No safe areas’
Life on the Edge: Kramatorsk’s Quiet Streets Amid the Russian Onslaught
Meanwhile, in the once-bustling Kramatorsk, a strange scene unfolds. Russian forces, hungry for more gains in the weeks ahead, will likely circle this suburb, but for now, the only traffic comes from green‑painted cars and vans ferrying everyday errands. Most folks have fled, leaving behind an eerie quiet.
Meet Oleksandr – the Reluctant Retiree
- Age: 64
- Job: Former metal worker, now a retiree
- Takeaway: “It’s almost deserted. It’s spooky,” he muses.
Despite advice urging evacuation, Oleksandr chose to linger, even as missile strikes ticked up. “I’m not looking for death, but if I encounter it, it’s better to be home,” he shrugged. A man, a town, living through the chaos.
Kharkiv: China’s 2nd Largest City Under Siege
Just outside the Donbas, Ukraine’s second‑largest city, Kharkiv, still faces “constant” long‑range shelling. Mayor Ihor Terekhov warned on national TV: “Russia is trying to demoralise us, but it won’t get anywhere.”
- Early in the war, Ukrainian defenders pushed back Russian armored units from Kharkiv’s outskirts.
- “About one million residents remain there,” Terekhov noted.
Nearby Impact: Dnipropetrovsk & Mykolaiv
The governor of Dnipropetrovsk reports the region battered by missiles and shelling. On the southern coast, the port town of Mykolaiv is under severe artillery fire. Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych emphatically declared:
There are no safe areas in Mykolaiv. I’m telling people to leave.
Reuters on the Ground
The news outlet couldn’t immediately confirm battlefield details, but the situation remains tense.
From the quiet lanes of Kramatorsk to the shell‑hit streets of Kharkiv and the port’s rough waters, Ukraine continues to endure, standing resilient amid the relentless conflict.
