I congratulate President Zelensky. He is now respected.

March 16, 2022
By Meredith Deliso

The mayor (click here) of an occupied Ukrainian city allegedly kidnapped by Russian forces last week has been freed, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.

Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was freed from captivity in a "special operation," according to Kirilo Timoshenko, an advisor to Ukraine's presidential office. Timoshenko did not provide any further details....

Kidnapping is not an unusual way for Russia to get their own spies back from other countries. Currently, the USA has some Americans in Russian prisons. The reason is always espionage or some sort of recording that is not approved by the USA. A retired military man went to Russia to attend a wedding and was accused of spying. Why? Because he has a military background.

One adverse aspect of trading POWs is that Putin will put them back into warfare. But, in this case, their capture and release will bring word back to an unwitting Russia.

A couple of thoughts about the health and well being of the Ukriane people. The most morbid aspect of disease in Ukraine at this point is that it could add to the war dead if they can't get adequate medical treatment. Additionally, the countries receiving the refugees need help in achieving health and well being for the refugess. There were many elderly persons being assisted to safety. They are not used to this level of physical activity and will need rest and health examinations at their final destination. The people with pre-existing conditions are going to impact the countries sponsoring the refugees. It is imperative the health of the country receving the war refugees are also maintaining the health of their own people, too.

This is just a horrible mess in so many ways.

15 March 2022

By Leslie Roberts

Adding to the brutal, immediate effects of Russia’s invasion, (click here) the Ukrainian people are facing an onslaught of infectious diseases. Some threats — such as the spread of COVID-19 — are immediate, as people huddle in basements, subway stations and temporary shelters to protect themselves from bombardments. Without adequate water and sanitation, cases of diarrhoeal diseases are certain to rise. The risk of polio and measles outbreaks is high. And as health facilities and roads are reduced to rubble, access to diagnostic services and treatments for tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS is being interrupted, which will add to their already sky-high burden.

“I am very, very worried for Ukraine. First and foremost, that this may lead to a long-term conflict that will completely destroy the health system,” says Lucica Ditiu, a Romanian physician and the executive director of the Stop TB Partnership in Geneva, Switzerland. The crisis comes atop the devastation wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which access to immunizations and essential health services plunged....

The release of the mayor is very good news and occurred quickly so his health did not deteriorate. While the kidnappings seems a bother the fact is that people in prison in Russia can risk their lives if their stay is very long. For that reason, neutral parties are asked to pay a visit to the jailed person to be sure their needs are being met.

But, congratulations is definitely in order. This is a sign of respect for the President of Ukraine. Let's hope the peace talks go as well.