INTERNATIONAL UKRAINE ANTI-FASCIST SOLIDARITY

 The US propaganda machine is playing dirtier than ever in its information war against Russia By Vitaly Sovin After the publication of a recent story in the New York Times based on allegedly ‘declassified materials’ from US intelligence agencies about Russia’s ‘purchase’ of millions of artillery shells and missiles from North Korea for use in Ukraine, something went awry.      Against the backdrop of statements from representatives of the State Department and the Department of Defense, who did not provide any factual information, John Kirby, the US National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, walked it back. He conceded that there were no indications that the arms purchase had actually occurred yet, or that any North Korean munitions had made it onto the battlefield in Ukraine. The narrative, however, serves a number of purposes: Highlighting the “serious logistical problems” for Russia and its local allies in the context of the military operation in Ukraine;

Ukraine has upped the ante in its conflict with Russia, how will Moscow respond? By Sergey Poletaev After Russia and its local allies liberated Severodonetsk and Lisichansk in early July, the fighting in Ukraine subsided somewhat. It seemed as if Moscow was deliberately letting the conflict settle into something with an air of the routine. Relatively little resources were being spent on it, while the state apparatus was working to overcome the effects of sanctions and to adapt the economy.     During this time, the military operation was taking place in a kind of ‘standby mode’ against the background of turbulence in the global economy and the deepening energy crisis in Europe.     However, in late summer and early autumn, events on the Ukrainian front called into question the prospects for such a frozen state. As we had anticipated, the operational pause on the part of the Russian army led to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) seizing the initiative and eventually launching two counter-

by James Tweedie In a scene from the 1974 film The Four Musketeers the vain Porthos (Frank Finlay) shows the pious Aramis (Richard Chamberlain) his new trick: He draws his rapier and throws it into the bullseye of a target.      Aramis tells Porthos to try that again, but with himself as a live target. The musketeer easily parries Porthos’ hurled sword to one side. “Only Porthos could invent a new way of disarming himself!” Aramis scoffs, before chasing his friend around the gymnasium.      NATO leaders obviously don’t watch enough classic swashbucklers. In their rush to arm the Ukraine since before the start of Russia’s ‘demilitarisation’ operation there, several eastern member-states have managed to demilitarise themselves without Moscow having to lift a finger.      Poland has sent 232 T-72 main battle tanks, almost half its entire tank fleet, over the border into the Ukraine. The Donbas militias have already captured some examples with almost no miles on the clock. Warsaw has orde

  Six months into the conflict, what exactly does Russia hope to achieve in Ukraine? by Dmitry Trenin  Putin’s latest comments reveal that Moscow’s thinking has shifted and compromise is no longer on the agenda.      Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to Ukraine as an “anti-Russian enclave” which has to be removed. He also said that the Russian soldiers taking part in the military operation there were fighting for their “own country.” These statements carry important implications.      Over the last six-plus months, the mantra of the Russian officialdom has been that all aims of the offensive will be reached. On purpose, however, the specific objectives, such as how far Moscow’s forces plan move into Ukraine, have never been spelled out. This cannot but raise speculation about what the Kremlin is actually hoping to achieve.      The only person who can authoritatively answer that question, however, is the President, and second-guessing him makes no sense. Yet, two thi

by New Worker correspondent A very successful online meeting to mobilise international support for the Free the Kononovich Brothers campaign took place on Thursday 25th August, with 50 participants from Ukraine, the Russian Federation, the USA, England and Scotland. Organised by the London-based International Ukraine Anti-Fascist Solidarity campaign (IUAFS) the seminar called for the release of the Kononovich brothers and all Ukrainian political prisoners and the restoration of all political and media freedoms.      Chaired by Theo Russell the key speakers were Chris Williamson, former Labour MP, Alexey Albu from Borotba (Struggle), a survivor of the 2014 Odessa Trade Union House Fire massacre, Steve Sweeney, Moscow-based investigative journalist and former Morning Star international editor, John Parker from Solidarity with Donbass and Antifascists in Ukraine (joining from Los Angeles), Phil Wilayto, Odessa Solidarity Campaign (Virginia USA), and members of the Young Communist Leag

Only one in three UN members back new anti-Russia resolution International support for Ukraine has dropped dramatically since March. Only one in three UN members back new anti-Russia resolution.Only one in three UN members back a new anti-Russia resolution US and EU ambassadors backed Ukrainian envoy to the UN Sergey Kislitsa after a Security Council meeting on 24August 24, 2022. But Ukraine’s latest proposal to condemn Russia has attracted the backing of just 58 out of 193 UN member states, a far cry from the number that symbolically supported Kiev in the General Assembly in March.      Kiev’s envoy to the UN Sergey Kislitsa heralded the proposed resolution on Wednesday, following the Security Council meeting convened on Ukraine’s independence day. The session featured a video address by President Vladimir Zelensky, for which the council had to override protocol requiring in-person appearances, and a series of statements by Western governments denouncing Russia.      Moscow’s envoy Va

    Thursday 25th August   CLICK ON THIS LINK TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING AT 7PM BST, THU 25 AUGUST:   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82347234197?pwd=NXQyUTdhdUpPRmtKaGVoT1NHSVJ1dz09 (The meeting will open 30 minutes early so that participants can be ready for the start)   Free the Kononovych Brothers! Free all Ukrainian Political Prisoners! Restore political and media freedoms in Ukraine! S peakers from the UK, US and Ukraine Chris Williamson, Trade Union & Socialist Coalition (UK), ex-Labour Party MP and Shadow Minister Alexey Albu, Borotba (Struggle), survivor of the 2014 Odessa Trade Union House Fire massacre Steve Sweeney, former International Editor, The Morning Star Dmitry Dezhnev, Union of Ukrainian Political Emigrants and Refugees (depending on communication availability with eastern Ukraine) Phil Wilayto, Odessa Solidarity Campaign (Virginia, USA) Organised by: International Ukraine Anti Fascist Solidarity Facebook: tinyurl.com/