[W:855]interesting images

[Rogue Valley]

Russian journalist Aleksandra Tonkikh was detained by Border Guards at Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport.
She was denied entry to Ukraine because she had previously visited occupied Crimea which is a violation of Ukraine law.
Ms. Tonkikh was attempting to enter Ukraine via an end-around indirect flight from Istanbul, Turkey.

 

[Rogue Valley]

A mechanized Army battalion rotating to JFO front line service.

 

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This is a map of Ukraine (Україна) from 1919 and displays all lands that were part of Ukraine in 1919. Crimea, Kuban, Stavropol Territory, Chornomorshchina, Eastern Slobozhanshchina,
Starodubshchina (now they are part of Russia). Beresteyschina and Gomelshchyna (now part of Belarus). Kholmshchina, Podlasie, Nadsyannya, Northern Lemkovschina (Poland),
Southern Lemkovschina (Slovakia). Marmaroshchina, South Bukovina (now part of Romania).

 

[Rogue Valley]

Ukraine's new digital/biometric internal ID card can also be a digital passport. You can also use this card with a smartphone to order various government documents or synchronize with them.
This card can also act as a driver's license. According to the Ministry of Digital Transformation the ultimate goal is to be paperless society and have one just one card do everything.

 

[Rogue Valley]

21y.o. Serhiy Mykhalchuk was KIA in shelling at Svitlodarsk Bulge, Donetsk Oblast on December 14. Serhiy sacrificed
his life by throwing himself over a friend and shielding him from shrapnel. Served in the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade of
the National Guard of Ukraine. Slava Ukrayini.

 

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World Champion in Synchronized Swimming Kateryna Reznik does her morning stretching and warm ups.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Volodymyr Yelchenko has been appointed the Ukraine Ambassador to the United States. He was previously Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations. Volodymyr graduated from the Faculty of
International Relations and International Law at Kyiv State University in 1981. Since 1981 he has worked in the diplomatic service of Ukraine.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Svyatohirsk Lavra (Monestary) and cave ensemble on the steep banks of the Seversky Donets River near the city of Sviatohirsk in Donetsk Oblast. The name comes from the surrounding
Holy Mountains which is today the Sviatohori National Nature Park. From the 15th century. Saints Cyril and Methodius may have preached the Christian faith to pagan tribes in the area.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Ukrainian coal miners. Most of the coal deposits/mines in Ukraine are in the eastern part of the country. About 20% of the country's electric needs are met via coal-fired plants
(the rest by nuclear/hydro/wind/solar). As in the United States, coal use is decreasing in Ukraine and mines are closing. It's hard and sometimes dangerous work for declining wages.

 

[Rogue Valley]

A Ukraine army sniper in the "gray zone".

 

[Rogue Valley]

Not much of a surprise. Russian spy Mariya Butina has found a job with RT. She will become the host of the streamed Beautiful Russia
Bu Bu Bu program which mocks the Alexei Navalny opposition. One needs to speak Russian to understand the Bu Bu Bu part. It's a play on words.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Russian tanks on flatbed rail cars waiting in the switching-yard at Rostov-on-Don, Russia. You can see by looking at the tank treads above that the tank is wider than the flatbed.
Under Russian railway regulations, this situation makes these tanks a "wide load" and is denoted as such by marking the tank with "H2200" in white paint. You can see this
H2200 painted on the tank above. No other country in the world uses the "H2200" designation. At any time you can see Russian tanks in occupied eastern Ukraine with "H2200"
stenciled on the tank because someone neglected to remove or paint over the "H2200". And Moscow continues to deny there are any Russian troops/weapons in Ukraine's Donbas.

 

[Rogue Valley]

A new bill in the Ukraine parliament would allow inventors working for academic/corporate institutions to receive a minimum of 20% of the profit generated by their inventions.
The current allowance is 1-5% which is far too small and encourages academic brain-drain to more financially rewarding European nations.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Participants practice the grand entry for the 2020 annual Ukraine Vienna Charity Ball to be held April 4, 2020 which will focus on Ukraine's distinctive past,
present and future. The artistic program of the event will be created by the Kyiv-Classic Symphony Orchestra under the direction of UNESCO Artist for Peace,
Ambassador of Ukrainian Culture Herman Makarenko.

 

[Rogue Valley]

A destroyed apartment block and school building in Putilovka grove near the JFO front line and not in use since the war began over five years ago. An ideal location for a Russian sniper team.

 

[Rogue Valley]

European archery champion Veronica Marchenko of Ukraine congratulates fans from a height of 2369 meters - Yastrebets
Peak in Bulgaria. Veronica is from Lviv.

 

[Rogue Valley]

The Kyiv headquarters of the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) at 32–35 Volodymyrska Street. The SBU remains a bloated organization with approximately 30,000 agents.
Each oblast (26) has an "Alpha" Rapid Response Team that is very similar to a heavily armed SWAT team. The SBU can investigate just about anything and anyone.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Showing the colors of Ukraine, this is the city Christmas tree of Ivano-Frankivsk. There are special lights on the tree and can each change colors randomly or by computer programming.

 

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A lake located in the Stir River basin in Polissya. Because of a high glycerol content, it is believed that the water in this lake is healing and rejuvenating. A popular summer getaway.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Yesterday. Russia's forces killed a civilian in Mariinka, Ukraine with a sniper shot.
Ukrainian military medics tried to save him, but he died while travelling to a field hospital.
Another Ukrainian murder that accrues to Vladimir Putin.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Young lady playing a Ukrainian stringed folk instrument called a bandura (or kobza) that combines elements of the zither and lute.
Sounds something like an auto-harp but without the dampers. The bandura can be either strummed or plucked.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Another military burial at the (left) Alley of Heroes in the city of Kharkiv. Over 14,000 Ukrainian dead so far in Putin's quest for Muscovite expansion.

 

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Five Canadian officials (back) visiting the contested eastern Ukraine town on Avdiivka. It is very dangerous here.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Snowstorm hits Kyiv on December 19th. Not too bad actually. I've experienced far, far worse here.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Vasyl Lisitsyn was KIA by enemy fire near Mariinka, Donetsk Oblast on December 17.
Born on January 1, 1991 in Kropyvnytsky, Kirivohrad Oblast. Mobilized in April 2018 and then signed a military contract.
Served as mechanic and gunner in the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade.