A blockbuster charity event will be held at the Hyatt in February 2023 to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The event is organised by Father Michael Solomko, a local Ukrainian church leader, and an ACT and Easts Rugby and ACT Cricket legend, Gordon Scott. Scotty organised a highly successful bushfire appeal at the same venue after the 2003 bushfires. Watch this space for further details.
This brings me to what Australia is doing to help Ukraine. I went to the Ukrainian demonstration last Saturday outside the Russian embassy, and heard some stirring words from the speakers. However, talking to some of the activists later, I was disappointed to hear that after an initial flurry of help when Peter Dutton was defence minister, things have slowed down under the new minister, Richard Marles. We have committed to supply 60 Bushmaster armoured personnel carriers. These have proved to be a brilliant success so far for the Ukrainian army, but only 40 have been delivered to date. As we have eight C-17 strategic transport planes which can comfortably carry three Bushmasters on each trip to Poland for delivery to Ukraine, there is no excuse for tardiness.
Australia has 1,052 Bushmasters; we could easily give Ukraine 200 to 300, and make another 300 new ones in Victoria. We are also yet to supply Ukraine with the 155mm ammunition for their guns we promised, and there is no reason why we can’t also send them a few of our 155mm howitzers. We also can send some 7.62- and 5.56-mm small arms ammunition. All of this is made in Australia, and it gives us a chance to boost our defence manufacturing by replacing what we give to Ukraine, plus some.
In Canberra, our local Ukrainian community is very keen to raise money to send camp stretchers (cost $52 each) to Ukraine. Winter is coming, and these lightweight stretchers mean that Ukrainian troops and bombed-out civilians won’t have to sleep in water or snow. If people want to help with these, please contact Father Michael at the Ukrainian church, McKay Gardens, Turner, direct. Ukraine is fighting for our freedom as well, and needs all the help it can get from fellow democracies.
Finally, it is good to see many Russians voting with their feet and trying to get out of Putin‘s Russia. Opposition seems to be growing, and Putin is getting desperate. The West must continue to stand up to his bluster. I think the US has suggested he tone it down, and warned him it will be tit for tat if he is serious about using any nukes. Russian dictators since Comrade Lenin have been very sensible when they know the other side is not bluffing, and tend to back off. Lenin said in 1918: “Push out a bayonet – if it strikes fat, push on – if it strikes steel, pull back for another day.”
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