War Reality

 

This is what every Ukrainian Man, Woman and Child has had to deal with for 4 1/2 years of Russia's War.

$2.68 Billion

 

The United States has approved a potential $2.68 Billion Dollar Military Package for Ukraine.

The deal includes Counter-Drone Systems, Air-Defense Upgrades and S-300 “Clone” Missiles, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s Defenses against Russian Drones and Cruise Missiles.

Russia Losing

 

4 years and 6 months of War in Ukraine with little to no advances since 2024 mean that Russia has not only lost in Ukraine, but is losing at home too.

Beginning in January 2026 Russia switched from having 2 Annual Military Draft Call-Ups (one in the Spring and one in the Fall) to a Year-Round Military Draft Call-Up.

Russia currently Drafts 40,000 new Soldiers (aged 18-30 years old) every Month so in 1 year that means Russia Drafts 480,000 new Soldiers.

With 26,000 Russian Soldiers killed or wounded in Ukraine every single day that means in 1 year Russia loses 780,000 Soldiers – which is more than they replace with Drafted Soldiers in a year and more than they have in their Regular Military.

Those are only the new Conscripts and doesn’t include Former Conscripts 31-72 years old who are now forced to fight and die in Ukraine.

Russia will literally run out of Men to send to die in Ukraine soon and will be plagued with an imbalance between Women and Men for Decades to come.

Since September 2022 Russia has sent both Volunteers and Conscripted Soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Putin has forced Boys as young as 16 and Men as old as 72 to fight inside Ukraine after 20 days of Military Training.

Not only that, but Russia is bombed and burning.

An Average of 1,000 Drones regularly strike Russian Cities (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar, Yaroslavl, Perm, etc.) destroying Factories, Oil Processing Plants, etc.

Russia has been bombed 41,000 times since February 2022.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has said that soon Ukraine will attack Russia with at least 1,000 Drones every single day.

56 of Russia’s 83 Regions have imposed Gas Rationing with People in Moscow being forced to wait in lines of 12-36 hours just to get the allowed 7 Gallons of Gas with a Gallow of Gas now costing $17 US Dollars.

Russia has lost $13 Billion US Dollars Revenue from its Gas and Oil in 2026 alone and has to import Gas from India.

The United States imports 86% of its Diesel from Canada (not Russia) so the high Diesel prices are caused by the Trade War between the US and Canada and not Russia’s War in Ukraine.

It costs Russia $40,000 US Dollars to kill a Ukrainian Soldier or Civilian with 1 of its Drones.

It costs Ukraine $848 US Dollars to kill a Russian Soldier with 1 of its Drones.

Today, Putin’s Government has created Potemkin Businesses where there are no empty shelves, but the Average Russian can’t afford even the Basics (because everything is imported from China, India, and Central Asia.)

The Average Russian only makes ₽83,500 ($1,000 US Dollars) a month after Taxes.

(₽104,000 or $1,412 US Dollars before Taxes.)

Rent for a 1 Bedroom Apartment in the City Center costs $624 US Dollars a month.

Buying Groceries for 1 Person costs on average $407 US Dollars a month.

That means that the Average Russia earning the Average Monthly Wage will owe $31 US Dollars after Paying their Rent and Buying their Groceries every month and that doesn’t include things like the cost of Internet, Cell Phones, Public Transportation, Medicines, Cars, Gas, etc.

Russia stopped being a Super Power years ago even though they try and act like they are still one.

They threatened to wipe Warsaw, Poland off the map in 2 to 3 days, but they couldn’t even take Kyiv, Ukraine in 3 days like they said they would.

Russia's War in Ukraine has surpassed Nazi Germany's War in the Soviet Union.

The Eastern Front of the Second World 2 was from June 22, 1941 until May 9, 1945 (or 1,419 days.)

Russia's War in Ukraine has been going on since February 22, 2022 (or 1,667 days and counting.)

The Nazi Germans occupied 700,000 Square Miles of Soviet Territory at the height of the Eastern Front.

The Russians only occupy 44,600 Square Miles of Ukrainian Territory.

Putin’s Russia is currently at the point that Hitler’s Germany was in April 1945.

Soon Russia will run out of Money and Manpower and will lose their War in Ukraine.

Putin will eventually be out of power and the Ordinary Russians will have to start answering for the Crimes they supported in the same way the Germans did after 1945.

Ukraine will win the War and will continue to enjoy the International Achievements they currently do.

Most Countries, including the United States, are now looking at how effective Ukraine is fighting and using Modern Technology on the Frontline.

Capitivity

 

96% of Ukrainian Soldiers and 92% of Ukrainian Civilians (Men, Women and Children) who have been released from Russian Captivity report experiencing Torture and Abuse every day.

V-J Day

 

85: Star of David

85 years ago today (September 1, 1941) the Germans required Jews in Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia  to wear a Yellow Star of David with the German Word “Jude” for “Jew.”

(A Jewish Girl in German-Occupied Croatia forced to wear a Star of David with the Ž for “Židov”, English: “Jew” on it.)

Every Man, Woman and Child over the age of 6 had to buy these Badges (using their own Clothing Ration Coupons) and have them clearly visible on their outer clothing (including a coat) so that they could easily be identified and discriminated against for being Jewish.

When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 they required Jews there to wear a White Armband with a Blue Star of David for the same purpose.

(Jewish People in German-Occupied Belgium forced to wear the Star of David with the J (for "Jude" in German, "Juif" in French and "Jood" in Dutch.)

Parts of Poland had different Badges. In German-Occupied Warsaw Jews had to wear the Armband and in German-Occupied Lodz Jews had to wear the Yellow Star (because that part of Poland was illegally annexed into Germany.)

(A Jewish Man in German-Occupied Poland forced to wear the Star of David Armband.)

In every European and North African Country/Territory that Germany occupied during World War 2 the Jews there had to wear similar Identifying Badges with the local name for “Jew” on it (French: “Juif”, Dutch: “Jood”, Croatian: Ž for “Židov”, English: “Jew” for the British Channel Islands which Germany occupied, etc.)

Failure to not wear the Armband or the Star or to “hide it” and not have it clearly visible resulted in instant death.

This requirement was on top of every Jewish Man, Woman and Child having to carry an Identity Card with a large “J” on it – since 1938 in Germany and every German Jewish Man, Woman and Child having to add either “Israel” for Men or “Sara” for Women to their Names to be “more easily recognizable as Jews” – since 1936.

The Germans wanted to first identity the Jews and then to murder them.

Kaliningrad

 

Kaliningrad City, Russia has been separated from the rest of Russia since the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991 (35 years ago.)

Kaliningrad, Russia was known as Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany until 1945.

1,029,966 People live in Kaliningrad Oblast (489,359 in the City of Kaliningrad.)

 

Now Kaliningrad is surrounded by:

Poland (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Lithuania (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

 

The Airspace needed to go from Kaliningrad, Russia to Minsk, Belarus (an ally of Russia) is blocked by:

Poland (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Lithuania (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Latvia (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Estonia (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Finland (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Sweden (a NATO and European Union Member Country)

Not only is the Airspace closed to Kaliningrad, but also the Land and Rail Borders through Poland and Lithuania because of Russia’s War in Ukraine and Belarus’ frequent Violation of NATO and EU Airspace and Land Borders since 2021.

 

Kaliningrad City is only 290 miles from Minsk by car (2 hours by plane), but now it takes several more hours to go by plane only.

So all People, Food, etc. have to be flown in from Belarus or Russia via Russia.

 

Belarus has been ruled by the Dictator, Alexander Lukashenko since 1994 (32 years.)

Russia has been ruled by the Dictator, Vladimir Putin, since 2000 (26 years.)

Note 1: The United States closed its Embassy in Minsk, Belarus in 2022 because Belarus allowed Russia to invade Ukraine from Belarussian Territory.

There has not been an American Ambassador to Belarus since June 2022.

American Citizens are told not to travel to Belarus and Belarussian Citizens can no longer get American Visas.

Note 2: The United States closed its Consulate in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2018, its Consulate in Vladivostok, Russia in 2020 and its Consulate in Yekaterinburg in 2021.

The US Embassy in Moscow, Russia is open, but only to help American Citizens inside Russia.

There has been no American Ambassador to Russia since June 2025.

American Citizens are told to not travel to Russia.

The US Embassy no longer gives Russian Citizens American Visas.

 

Defenders Of Ukraine

 

Today is Memorial Day of the Defenders of Ukraine (Ukrainian: День пам'яті захисників України.)

Here are pictures (at St. Michael's Cathedral) in Kyiv, Ukraine of the Men and Women who died protecting Ukraine and the rest of the World from Russia.

43,000

 

Russia had 43,000 Soldiers dead or wounded in Ukraine in July 2026 alone.

35: Monument

35 Years of Ukrainian Independence

For Ukrainian Independence Day tomorrow (August 24, 1991) the Motherland Monument in Kyiv launched a five-minute audiovisual art installation titled "The Future Remembers."

The Project tells the story of Ukrainian History and Identity through light, symbols, and music.

During the projection, the Monument displayed changing images that reference various periods in the History of Ukraine, including Cossack embroidery, Crimean Tatar ornaments, and motifs of Greek, Scythian, and Slavic cultures.

35: DC

 

Today, Washington, DC turned blue and yellow as Ukrainians and Americans gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the restoration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991  -35 years ago tomorrow.

37: Baltic Way

37 years ago today (August 23, 1989) the Baltic Way occurred in Soviet-Occupied Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

(The Baltic Way in Latvia.)

The Baltic Way (Lithuanian: Baltijos kelias; Latvian: Baltijas ceļš; Estonian: Balti kett) was a peaceful demonstration where 2 Million Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians joined hands to create a human chain that was 430 miles long and stretched from Estonia, through Latvia and into Lithuania.

August 23, 1989 was the 50th Anniversary of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (signed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on August 23, 1939) that not only made Nazi Germany and the USSR Allies, but also allowed the Soviet Union to invade and occupy Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

The 1989 event was organized by the Baltic Pro-Independence Movements: Rahvarinne of Estonia, the Tautas fronte of Latvia, and Sąjūdis of Lithuania, to draw Global attention by demonstrating a popular desire for Independence and showcasing Solidarity among the three nations.

It has been described as an effective publicity campaign, and an emotionally captivating and visually stunning scene.

Background to the Baltic Way:

On August 23, 1939 the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany became Allies (which they stayed until June 21, 1941)

The Soviet Union invaded, occupied and illegally annexed Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia from September 2, 1939 until June 22, 1941 and then again from 1944 until December 26, 1991.

The Soviets made the Russian Language the Official Language throughout Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, they deported and murdered Ethnic Estonians, Ethnic Lithuanians and Ethnic Latvians and moved Ethnic Russians into the Baltics to forcibly Russify the areas.

From 1939-1941 the Soviets Forcibly Deported from the Baltics to Siberia:

11,000 Estonians from Estonia to Gulags and Forced Settlements in Siberia (9,267 died.)

17,500 Lithuanians from Lithuania to Gulags and Forced Settlements in Siberia. (9,945 died.)

15,000 Latvians from Latvia to Gulags and Forced Settlements in Siberia (9,400 died.)

Thousands upon thousands of these Innocent Men, Women and Children were killed from Soviet Bullets, Forced Labor, Lack of Food, the Harsh Weather, etc.

From 1939-1941 the Soviets Arrested, but didn’t Deport:

8,000 Estonians inside Estonia and murdered 2,000 of them.

12,900 Lithuanians inside Lithuania and murdered 3,000 of them.

21,000 Latvians in Lativia and murdered 5,000 of them.

From June 1941 until 1944 the Baltics were invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany.

The Nazis murdered: 950 of the 1,000 Estonian Jews during the Holocaust and 49,000 Estonian Civilians (7% of Estonia’s 1939 Population.)

The Nazis murdered: 195,000 Lithuanian Jews during the Holocaust and 150,000 Lithuanian Civilians (14% of Lithuania’s 1939 Population.)

The Nazis Murdered: 66,000 Latvian Jews during the Holocaust and 154,000 Latvian Civilians (12% of Latvia’ 1939 Population.)

From 1945-1951 the Soviets Forcibly Deported:

35,000 Estonians from Estonia to Gulags and Forced Settlements in Siberia.

130,000 Lithuanians from Lithuania to Gulags and Forced Settlements in Siberia.

60,000 Latvians from Latvia to Gulags and Forced Settlements in Siberia.

70% of all the Deported were Women and Children under 16 years old.

Thousands upon thousands of these Innocent Men, Women and Children were killed from Soviet Bullets, Forced Labor, Lack of Food, the Harsh Weather, etc.

From 1945 -1951 the Soviets Arrested, but didn’t Deport:

30,000 Estonians inside Estonia and murdered 11,000 of them.

186,000 Lithuanians inside Lithuania and murdered 20,453 of them.

32,000 Latvians inside Latvia and murdered 12,000 of them.

Aftermath:

In December 1989, the Soviet Congress of People's Deputies accepted and Mikhail Gorbachev signed a Report condemning the Secret Protocols of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact – acknowledging the Soviet Invasion and Occupation of the Baltics for the first time.

In February 1990, the first Free Democratic elections to the Supreme Soviets took place in all three Baltic States and Pro-Independence Candidates won majorities.

On March 11, 1990, within seven months of the Baltic Way, Lithuania became the first Soviet State to declare Independence from the Soviet Union (which was recognized by the USSR on March 11, 1990.)

On May 4, 1990 Latvia declared its Independence from the Soviet Union (which was recognized by the USSR on September 6, 1991)

On August 20, 1990, Estonia declared its Independence from the Soviet Union (which was recognized by the USSR on September 6, 1991.)

The independence of all three Baltic States was recognized by most Western Countries by the end of 1991 and the Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991.

Estonia joined NATO on March 29,2004, the European Union on May 1, 2004 and the Eurozone in 2011.

Lithuanian joined NATO on March 29, 2004, the European Union on May 1, 2004 and the Eurozone in 2015.

Latvia joined NATO on March 29, 2004, the European Union on May 1, 2004 and the Eurozone in 2014.

Black Ribbon

Black Ribbon Day

Today (August 23rd) is Black Ribbon Day. It is the day the European Union, Georgia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States remembers the Men, Women and Children murdered by both the Nazis and the Communists. The date was chosen because it was when the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the German Nazis and the Soviet Communists was signed in 1939.

The Nazis murdered 24,826,424 Men, Women and Children (Non-Military Civilians) from 1933-1945.

That number also includes those in Targeted Groups that the Nazis specifically went after:

 Jews:   6 Million Men, Women and Children;

Non-Jewish Polish Civilians: 3 Million Men, Women and Children

People with Disabilities: 270,000 Men, Women and Children (doesn’t include the 375,000 Disabled who were Forcibly Sterilized)

Roma and Sinti (Gypsies): 500,000- 1.5 Million Men, Women and Children

Jehovah's Witnesses:  5,000 Men, Women and Children

Homosexuals:  9,000 Men and Women in Concentration Camps (Doesn’t include the 50,000 Men and Women held in Regular Prisons)

 

 The Communists murdered 149,469,610 Men, Women and Children (Non-Military Civilians)  Worldwide since 1917 and the Communists in China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea continue murdering Innocent People.

We should also remember the Ukrainian Men, Women and Children being murdered by the Russian Nazi Zs since 2022.

True State

The True State of Russia

( A Screenshot taken of the Nova Gazeta’s Map of Russia showing the area of Russia bombed at 3:30 pm EST on August 22, 2026. The Map updates every 15 minutes.)

Russia is crumbling from the inside out.

4 ½ years of War in Ukraine with little to no advances since 2024 mean that Russia has not only lost in Ukraine, but is losing at home too.

Beginning in January 2026 Russia switched from having 2 Annual Military Draft Call-Ups (one in the Spring and one in the Fall) to a Year-Round Military Draft Call-Up.

Russia currently Drafts 40,000 new Soldiers (aged 18-30 years old) every Month so in 1 year that means Russia Drafts 480,000 new Soldiers.

With 26,000 Russian Soldiers killed or wounded in Ukraine every single day that means in 1 year Russia loses 780,000 Soldiers – which is more than they replace with Drafted Soldiers in a year and more than they have in their Regular Military.

Those are only the new Conscripts and doesn’t include Former Conscripts 31-72 years old who are now forced to fight and die in Ukraine.

Russia will literally run out of Men to send to die in Ukraine soon and will be plagued with an imbalance between Women and Men for Decades to come.

Since September 2022 Russia has sent both Volunteers and Conscripted Soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Putin has forced Boys as young as 16 and Men as old as 72 to fight inside Ukraine after 20 days of Military Training.

58,000 Russian Men and Boys (from aged 16 to 72) have fled Russia in the last week because of more Forced Mobilizations.

Not only that, but Russia is bombed and burning.

An Average of 1,000 Drones regularly strike Russian Cities (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar, Yaroslavl, Perm, etc.) destroying Factories, Oil Processing Plants, etc.

Russia has been bombed 41,000 times since February 2022.

56 of Russia’s 83 Regions have imposed Gas Rationing with People in Moscow being forced to wait in lines of 12-36 hours just to get the allowed 7 Gallons of Gas with a Gallow of Gas now costing $17 US Dollars.

Russia has lost $13 Billion US Dollars Revenue from its Gas and Oil in 2026 alone and has to import Gas from India.

It costs Russia $40,000 US Dollars to kill a Ukrainian Soldier or Civilian with 1 of its Drones.

It costs Ukraine $848 US Dollars to kill a Russian Soldier with 1 of its Drones.

Today, Putin’s Government has created Potemkin Businesses where there are no empty shelves, but the Average Russian can’t afford even the Basics (because everything is imported from China, India, and Central Asia.)

 

The Average Russian only makes ₽83,500 ($1,000 US Dollars) a month after Taxes.

(₽104,000 or $1,412 US Dollars before Taxes.)

Rent for a 1 Bedroom Apartment in the City Center costs $624 US Dollars a month.

Buying Groceries for 1 Person costs on average $407 US Dollars a month.

That means that the Average Russia earning the Average Monthly Wage will owe $31 US Dollars after Paying their Rent and Buying their Groceries every month and that doesn’t include things like the cost of Internet, Cell Phones, Public Transportation, Medicines, Cars, Gas, etc.

Russia's War in Ukraine has surpassed Nazi Germany's War in the Soviet Union.

The Eastern Front of the Second World 2 was from June 22, 1941 until May 9, 1945 (or 1,419 days.)

Russia's War in Ukraine has been going on since February 22, 2022 (or 1,642 days and counting.)

The Nazi Germans occupied 700,000 Square Miles of Soviet Territory at the height of the Eastern Front.

The Russians only occupy 44,600 Square Miles of Ukrainian Territory.

Putin’s Russia is currently at the point that Hitler’s Germany was in March 1945.

Soon Russia will run out of Money and Manpower and will lose their War in Ukraine.

https://novayagazeta.eu/en/articles/2026/06/18/interactive-map-attacks-on-russian-territory-updated-in-real-time-en

Russian Rape

Thousands of Russian Men returning from committing War Crimes in Ukraine are now committing Crimes across Russia.

(Roman and Olga Bykovskay)

All 46 Oblasts (Provinces), 21 Republics, 9 Krais (Regions), 4 Autonomous Okrugs (Autonomous Areas) and the 2 Federal Cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg have reported at least a 87% of Violent Crime committed by Soldiers and Returning Soldiers since Russia started its War in Ukraine in 2022.

There are 23 Independently-Verified Accounts of Russian Military Wives who gave their Soldier Husbands permission to rape Ukrainians (Boys, Girls, Women and Men.)

One such Military Wife is Olga Bykovskaya whose phone call with her Husband, Roman, was intercepted.

In the Phone Call Olga tells her Husband;  “Rape them, yeah, ... Don't tell me anything, understand? Yeah, I allow you—just use protection."

Roman replies: “Uh-Huh. 'So I should rape and not tell you anything?”

Olga: “'Yes, so that I wouldn't know anything. Why do you ask?”

Roman: “Can I really?”

Olga replies, with a giggle: “Yeah, I allow you. Just use protection.”

Roman: “Ok.”

Roman and Olga Bykovskay are Russians from Oryol Oblast in Russia who moved to Russian-Occupied Crimea in 2018.

Roman, a Paratrooper, was part of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Olga has been tried in Absentia, found guilty of violating Article 27.2 of the Convention on the Protection of the Civilian Population in Time of War and the Geneva Conventions and sentenced to at least 5 years in Prison.

Of course she is living in Russian-Occupied Crimea and Putin and the Russian Military allow (and encourage) Russian Soldiers fighting in Ukraine to rape, torture and murder Ukrainians to “Get it out of your system before you return to Mother Russia.”

Men like Roman, who commit War Crimes in Ukraine, are returning to Russia and continuing their Rape, Violence and even Murder against Russian Citizens.

Any Russian Victim who complains or files a Police Report is sent either to a Mental Hospital against their will  or to a Forced Labor Penal Colony for 5 years for “spreading misinformation against the Great Russian Military.”

These attacks inside Russia will only get worse as more Soldiers return from Ukraine.

Giving the Soldiers Official Permission to rape Ukrainian Boys, Girls, Women and Men is not new to the Russians.

Soviet Soldiers during World War 2 – with Official Permission from Stalin Moscow – raped at least 100,000 Polish Girls and Women as they “liberated” Poland in 1944-1945.

The Soviets saw the Poles as Anti-Communist and wanted to “put them in their place in the New World Order (Ie. Communism.)”

Soviet Soldiers also raped “liberated” Russian, Ukrainians and Belarussian Forced Laborers inside Germany.

The Official Soviet Stance on these Soviet  Forced Laborers (who were arrested or kidnapped by the Germans and forced to work inside Germany or be killed) was that the Soviet Citizens were Traitors who “allowed themselves to be captured by the enemy.”

Soviet Soldiers raped many German Girls and Women.

2 Million German Girls and Women (the youngest known was 4 years old and the oldest known was 89) were raped by Soviet Soldiers.

100,000 German Girls and Women and were raped in Berlin along from April 1945-June 1945.

The rest were raped in the German Areas of: East Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia.

It is estimated that 23% of those who were raped by the Soviet Soldiers were either raped over and over again by the same Soldier or were Gangraped by Soviet Soldiers.

An 11 year old German Girl was taken from her Parents in their Bomb Shelter in May 1945, brought to an abandoned Factory where she was raped by 40-50 Soviet Soldiers for 3 days until she bled to death.

When her Father tried to find his Daughter he was shot and killed by the Soviets.

When her Mother reported the rape/murder of her Daughter to the Soviet Commanders she was put on a train and shipped to any unknown destination inside the Soviet Union where her trail ended.

The Soviets even forbade the Americans, British and French Occupation Forces to enter Belin until July 4, 1945 (despite Berlin having surrendered to the Soviets on May 2, 1945) because the Soviets needed to remove the traces of their War Crimes (including rape) in Berlin first.

It was illegal in the Soviet Union (from 1944-1991), in Poland (from 1945-1990) and in East Germany (from 1945-1990) to mention the fact that Soviet Soldiers raped anyone.

Helmut Kohl (who was Chancellor of West Germany from 1982-1990 and then Chancellor of Germany until 1998) first Wife, Hannelore Kohl (née Renner) was Gang-raped by Soviet Soldiers when she was 12 years old and thrown out of a window when the Soviets were done with her.

She suffered a fractured vertebra and back pain for the rest of her life. She committed Suicide in 2001.

Soviet Soldiers who returned to the USSR from Germany continued to commit rapes and crimes on Soviet Citizens for decades  - although the Communists forbade any mention of these crimes just like the Russians do today.

Locker

Locker Lady

The first time I studied in Russia in 2002 I would go to a Sports Center (with an indoor-pool and an exercise area) at least once a week.

While there I met a Woman, Alla Nikolaevna, who worked in the Men’s Locker Room handing out the Locker Keys, cleaning the Locker Room and the Shower and the Bathroom.

She was in her 60s.

Note: Throughout Russia Older Women (in their 60s-90s) have to do menial jobs after they retire so they can make ends-meet.

The Average Russian Retiree only makes $237 a month.

 You see them everywhere (at Coat Checks, at Public Pay Bathrooms, as Street Cleaners, as Snow Shovelers, as Conductors on Public Transportation, as Janitors, etc.) Most are overlooked and not given a second glance.

Back to my Story: In 2002 I was just learning Russian and so wasn’t fluent in it yet.

I would go to the Sports Center and either swim (you were only allowed to swim laps) or go to the exercise room.

After swimming or working out I would take a shower and wait for the Friends I had come with (who were in the Female Locker Room.)

The Locker Lady – I didn’t know her name at first – saw that I was always waiting and after a few weeks asked me (in Russian of course) what I was doing.

I told her that I was waiting for Friends to finish up. She could tell from my broken Russian and thick accent that I was a Foreigner and asked me where I was from. I told her the US and she beamed with excitement saying she had never met an American before.

She then invited me into her room and made tea (Russians are obsessed with tea) and gave me some cookies and said I could wait in there whenever I wanted to.

At least once a week for the next 6 months I would hang out with Alla Nikolaevna (I always used her First Name and her Patronymic) for about 30 -45 minutes while the Others finished up.

We would have tea and I would bring some treat to go along with it (a cake, cookies, etc.) and talk about regular things.

Alla Nikolaevna had been an Engineer in the Medical Field and worked her whole life and had travelled across the USSR and even went to Communist Poland once (which was a big deal since 99% of Soviets weren’t allowed to travel outside the USSR.)

She survived the Collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 (along with her Husband), but during the 1998 Financial Crisis (when the Russian Government changed the Russian Ruble from 1,000 Rubles to 1 Ruble overnight) she lost her life savings.

Her Husband also got sick and died at the same time and she had to pay for his Medical Bills (Health Care in Russia is technically free, but you have to either bring or pay for your own food, blankets, medicines, etc.)

So she went from being a Retired Engineer to a Locker Lady.

In 2002 I saw her every week for 6 months and then set up her Mail.ru account so we could e-mail after I left.

When I went back to study in  Russia for the 2nd time in 2004 I went back to the Sports Center, but mostly to hang out with Alla Nikolaevna.

This time I was fluent in Russian and so there was no Language Barrier anymore.

On her Birthday I brought her her favorite Cake and a small present and we celebrated. Even her Co-Workers whom she had know for 6 years didn’t even know it was her Birthday and were surprised that I did.

When I left Russia again we continued to stay in contact through e-mail.

We kept in regular contact until her Daughter wrote me a Letter in 2013 saying that Alla Nikolaevna had passed away and that she had found my Letters and E-Mails at her Mom’s place and wanted to let me know.

There are many good People around Russia, the US and the rest of the World who many do not give a second glance to: the Elderly, the Homeless, the Hungry, Veterans, the Disabled, etc.

I’m really glad that I randomly met Alla Nikolaevna and made the effort to get to know her and keep in touch. She was a very interesting and funny person.

Moscow Bombed

 

Ukraine launched 1,478 drones on Russia (including 600 on Moscow) today August 16, 2026.

It is in retaliation for Russia launching more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs and 62 missiles on Ukraine (including Kyiv) this week.

Russians are not allowed to write or post about the bombings inside Russia or they risk being sent to a Forced Labor Prison for 3 years by Putin.

Nazi Germany did the same thing back in World War 2.

Putin’s Russia = Nazi Russia.

Picture: Moscow bombed today.

975: Pechersk Lavra

 From the Ukrainian Embassy in Canada’s Facebook:

It may be hard to comprehend what 975 years means.

 Not just the changing of seasons, but generations of People, societies, technologies and even empires coming and going.

Yet some places have stood through it all – and today, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra marks its 975th Anniversary.

Established in 1051, the Lavra is a Christian sacred site and a witness to the continuity of Ukraine’s history and tradition of statehood.

Over the centuries, it became a center of chronicle writing, book printing, theological thought, education, medicine, architecture, icon painting, engraving, music and the arts.

It was part of the European and Byzantine world long before the emergence of the Russian Omperial tradition, which later sought to appropriate and erase its Ukrainian heritage.

Restoring the Ukrainian voice of the Lavra today means restoring these historical connections — from its founders, Anthony and Theodosius, to the princes, hetmans, scholars, artists, benefactors, museum professionals and restorers who shaped and preserved it across the centuries.

Yet this nearly thousand-year-old complex, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is still endangered today by Russia’s War against Ukraine.

On June 15, 2026, during a massive Russian attack on Kyiv, a strike drone deliberately hit the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, damaging around 80% of its roof.

After 975 years, the Lavra’s history is a powerful reminder of why it must be protected – as a part of Ukraine’s national memory and of the world’s shared cultural heritage.

VJ Day

 

65: Schuman

 

65 years ago today (August 15, 1961) 19 year old East German Border Guard Konrad Schuman escaped into West Berlin jumping over a barbed wire fence during the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Hans Konrad Schumann (March 28, 1942 – June 20, 1998) Born in Zschochau (now part of Ostrau, Saxony) during World War II, Schumann enlisted in the East German Bereitschaftspolizei (State Police) following his 18th Birthday. After three months' training in Dresden, he was posted to a Non-Commissioned Officers' College in Potsdam, after which he volunteered for service in Berlin.

On August 15, 1961, the 19-year-old Schumann was sent to the corner of Ruppiner Strasse and Bernauer Strasse to guard the Berlin Wall on its third day of construction. At roughly 4:00 PM, Schumann jumped over the barbed wire while dropping his PPSh-41 submachine gun, and was promptly driven away in the van by West Berlin Police.

West German Photographer Peter Leibing photographed Schumann's escape. The photograph, entitled "Leap into Freedom", has since become an iconic image of the Cold War era and featured at the beginning of the 1982 Disney film “Night Crossing.”

The scene, including Schumann's preparations, was also filmed on 16-mm film from the same perspective by camera operator Dieter Hoffmann. Schumann went from West Berlin to West Germany, settling in Bavaria.

In 1962, he met and married Kunigunde Gunda in Günzburg. They had a Son the following year. Schumann took up a new job at a winery and eventually at the Audi car assembly factory in Ingolstadt, where he worked for nearly 30 years.

From his jump to Freedom in August 1961 until the Fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 Schumann worried that the East German Stasi would try to assassinate him.

On June 20, 1998, suffering from Depression (from his years of worrying about being assassinated), he committed Suicide.

In May 2011, the photograph of Schumann's "Leap into Freedom" was inducted into the UNESCO Memory of the World Program as part of a collection of documents on the fall of the Berlin Wall.

He was one of the 4 Million East Germans who fled Communism for Freedom from 1945-1989.