EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis): Helleniscope was probably the first to raise the issue of the Greek minority in Ukraine on a post of January 22, 2022, and point to their risky status. Most of these 150,000 souls live in Eastern Ukraine, they are Russo-phone and they are Orthodox under the Moscow Patriarchate. Because of these facts, the Kiyv government never acknowledged “minority status” for them and Pat. Bartholomew never issued a statement of interest – while he “cared” to meet with a representative of the Tatar Turks of Ukraine. Until we published our post no one else in the Greek media or any branch of the Greek government had recognized the dangers facing this significant historic minority. Less than a week later, Foreign minister Nikos Dendias visited Mariupol and had talks with Ukrainian authorities about protecting the Greek minority who actually live in the war zone.
On February 15, one Greek was killed and two more were injured from the fire of the Ukrainian Army on the Eastern front. Then, the Greek Foreign ministry recognized the fact and simply issued condolences despite the fact they knew who was to blame – the Ukrainians (here is the story from protothema.gr). Yesterday, three days after the war started, and while the “fog of war” – and the waves of disinformation from both sides – did not allow a clear picture of what had happened, after 10 Greeks were killed by bombs, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Varvitsiotis came out with quite undiplomatic statements blaming the Russians. They should both be ashamed… Greece has no interest in taking part in this “hysteria circus”, where the imbeciles who govern the West are ridiculing themselves daily.
The Greeks “summoned the Russian envoy” who of course denied everything – but there was NO proof of any sort that they are to blame. On the opposite, there are plenty of indications, historic and current, that the Neonazis, who are the most vibrant part of the losing Ukrainian Army in the Eastern front, are using civilians as human shields. Why would Greek traitorous politicians rush to take sides? Whose interests are they serving? Not the interests of Greece for sure. At the same time, Greece decided to sent military help to Ukraine.
Let’s not forget the rich history of failed Greek expeditions in Ukraine. In 1919 prime minister of Greece Venizelos, in a fatal decision, sent two full divisions of a battle-hardened Greek army to fight in Crimea, while England and France sent fragments of one division combined. When the battle was lost to the Bolshevic Army, Hellenism paid a huge price: Lenin was so angry with the Greeks that he decided to help Kemal Ataturk with all his power. The result was the Catastrophe of 1922 and the end of Hellenism in Asia Minor. Those of you, who have family roots there – and I know many among us – you now know the real cause of why your grandparents were expelled from their 2500-old roots…
Mitsotakis should be sensitive to these facts and use the Greek minority along with the Orthodox religion as the justification for Grece’s neutrality. Instead, he is acting against the interests of Greece…
BELOW THE NEWS REPORT FROM AL-JAZZERA
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Greece summons Russian envoy after bombing kills 10 nationals
Greece summons the Russian ambassador after 10 nationals were killed and six wounded in Ukraine.
At least 10 Greek nationals have been killed and six wounded by Russia’s bombing in Ukraine, Greece’s foreign ministry said, adding that it has summoned the Russian ambassador to Greece.
Six people were killed in the Sartana village and four others in Buhas, located about 15km and 65km (9.3 miles and 40 miles), respectively north of Mariupol, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday, adding that there was a child among the injured.
Thousands of Greek expatriates live in Mariupol, the heart of the ethnic Greek community that dates to the 18th century.
Greece is “appalled by and unequivocally condemns the bombing of civilians” by Russia, read the statement which also said the Russian diplomat is expected at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
“Stop the bombing now!” Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Twitter.
The killing came as Ukraine has entered the fourth day of a massive sea, land and air offensive by Russia which has so far killed more than 200 civilians and wounded hundreds.
Just days before the Russian invasion, Dendias had “urgently” raised the protection of the ethnic Greeks in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the ministry added.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with Greece, saying that “all people of Europe”, and not just Ukrainians, are mourning today.
Translation: “It is not just the people of Ukraine who are mourning today because of the war waged by Russia, but all the peoples of Europe. Tonight we think with sadness of Greece that unjustly lost 10 expatriates who lived in Ukraine near Mariupol.
The Russian embassy in Athens in a statement expressed “deep sorrow” over the deaths, but insisted that Russia was “exclusively” targeting military units and installations in Ukraine.
“We do not bomb inhabited areas and villages, nor any political or cultural infrastructure,” the embassy said, adding that “the Ukrainian army and nationalist Nazi squads have been known for many years to strike against civilians”.
It denied that Russian units were active in the Sartana area on Saturday.
“The Kiev [Kyiv] regime is possibly using the ethnic Greek and other communities living in Ukraine precisely to foment anti-Russian reaction abroad,” it added.
Earlier this month, Athens protested to Kyiv after an ethnic Greek died in a brawl in eastern Ukraine, which Athens blamed on Ukrainian soldiers.
On Friday, Greece closed its embassy in Ukraine’s capital but reinforced its consular presence in the southern city of Mariupol.
Despite historic links to Russia, Greece has condemned the attack and has supported sanctions against Moscow.
Anti-war protests by Ukrainians living in Greece and political parties were also held during the week.
On Sunday, the Greek government decided to send defensive material to Ukraine, transported by two C-130 military aircraft, local media reported. The decision came a day after PM Mitsotakis said in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Athens was sending medical supplies in assistance.
Athens is also willing to provide Poland with “humanitarian and technical assistance” in managing refugees from Ukraine, the Greek migration ministry said.
Who greases Mitsotakis and Bartholomew palms?
So….
Russia has saved $600 billion in foreign currency while the US is $30 trillion in debt!
So…
The intended effect, the official added, is to cripple the Russian economy and use up the country’s “rainy day fund” as their currency, the ruble, plummets in value. That rainy day fund was built up to defend against economic consequences when Russia invaded Crimea in 2014.
So Sevastopol is where the Russian military base is in the Crimean port where all people are Russian.
So….
Russia annexed Crimea when US and Israel overthrew the pro Russian President in 2014 and 14,000 civilians were killed. Nice!
My understanding at the moment…
Paul Craig Roberts states:
“As Union war criminal William Tecumseh Sherman said, “war is hell.” The Kremlin is trying to conduct war without the hell. Consequently, the Nazi militias have ensconced themselves and their weapons systems amidst civilians. As the Russian military is under orders not to fire into civilian areas, the conquest is stopped in its tracks.”
Roberts goes in to say, “ Israel is supporting the Ukrainian Nazis.” What does this suggest to you about WWII? OMG!
Furthermore, he states, “PCR states
Ukraine’s latest ploy is to ask its ally Israel to mediate with Russia. If Russia falls for it, she will likely be taken to the cleaners. But there is an opportunity perhaps in the event. Putin could explain to Israel that NATO’s encroachment requires precautionary action on her southern border, which means providing Iran with S400 missiles and establishing a military base in Iran. This would not be necessary if Ukraine renounced NATO membership and dismantled the Nazi militias. “
Zelensky has applied for NATO membership and Mitsotakis could care less that 10 Greeks died.