Twenty-five years ago, Ukraine was the world's third-largest nuclear power, with more warheads than the United Kingdom, France and China combined. (Article)

Whatever the other motives for this staged attack, this kind of passivity may well be what the Russians are counting on. This is the modus operandi they have followed in the past: Take a few steps forward; wait for a reaction. If there isn’t one, move farther. If there is one, wait for the emotions to die down — and then move farther. This incident may or may not end here, but consider it a warning: If we don’t have a broader strategy for ending this war, that will be the pattern for years to come. (Article)

Since the 2014 “Revolution of Dignity”, Ukraine has made extraordinary progress.

The National Bank of Ukraine is strong, confident and widely regarded as a successful example; the country has introduced egovernment for public procurement and VAT repayments; it has rolled out, with the support of the EU and the EBRD, formidable teams of young Ukrainian professionals to rebuild public administration from within key ministries; and it has introduced professional governance in a small number of critically important state-owned enterprises.

A business ombudsman, created by the EBRD with donor support, has been a great success in resolving issues between companies and the administration. Clearly, the business environment today is much improved. More and more investors have growing and profitable operations. Ukraine has never been in a more advanced position in its process of transformation. (Full Story)

The third largest Norwegian city is Trondheim.

It is best known for being linked to unruly Viking kings but now it turns out to become a key to learn how Norway received Christianity.

And it is from a place where not many could have imagined possible - Kiev!

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And so this is the way Tony Bellew’s extraordinary professional boxing career ends, both with a bang and a whimper. “It is hard to go out like this, a loser,” Bellew sniffled at a desperately sad post-fight press conference in a small side room at the Manchester Arena, above the din of a small team of roadies dissembling the prize ring. “But I just would not have been able to live with myself had I not taken him on.” (Article)

S1mple’s teammates were heard laughing and cheering in the background after the Natus Vincere star clutched the round, but the Ukrainian remained remarkably calm considering what he had just accomplished.

Kostyliev has seen plenty of success recently, as his Natus Vincere squad recently won the $125,000 BLAST Pro Series tournament in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Full Story)

Full Free Book is HERE  

* The quote about dining on the floor of the Ukrainian house (in the text it is "Malo-Russian house") is on p. 49.

The passages about Ukraine are on pp. 46 -50.

There is another observation the author made on the relationship between the Don Cossacks and the Russians on p.50.

It appears to prove itself true for the effect the Russians have on the civilization even in our days: 

"The Cossacks are justified in acting towards the Russians as they have uniformly done; that is to say, in withdrawing as much as possible from all communion with a race of men, whose association might corrupt, but could never advance, the interests of their society."

"In conversation, the Cossack is a gentleman ; for he is well informed, free from prejudice, open, sincere, and upright. Place him by the side of a Russian what a contrast ! The one is literally a two-legged pig, having all the brutality, but more knavery, than that animal ;* the other, a rational, accomplished, and valuable member of society." (p.62.)

On this page there is also an account of how Russians "with horrble cruelty" killed women and children in the Finnish city of Wasa.

(Ukrainian city of Baturin was demolished with all its 15 000 inhabitants including women and children in the very same manner several decades before - in the year 1708. Ukraine remembered 310 years of that dreadful event just recently this year).

Interestingly, the author notes that the Don Cossacks not just did not associate themselves with the Russians, but they even made every efford to avoid them for the corrupting effect Russians had on the society.

But if the Don Cossacks were not Russian, who were they? Where did they originate and come from?

Intuitively, Edward Clark appeared to be close to making another conclusion which he still failed to make, that the Don Cossacks consisted mostly of the Ukrainian Cossacks who had to resettle because of Russia's assaults on the Zaporozh Sich.  (Actually, through the chapters, Dr. Clark admits hearing on several occasions that the Don Cossacks had come from Poland, but he did not believe it most likely forgetting that the Zaporozh Cossacks were part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for several centuries).

The last, somewhat prophetic quote of Edward Clark on Russia:

"Russia was, and is, and ever will be, that point in the great circle of society, where the extremes of meanness and magnificence unite." (p. 69)

In the letter, the primate of the church of Zion is rather harsh toward the new patriarch of Moscow. Indeed, the Jerusalem patriarch rebukes his Moscow counterpart throughout the entire text, stating that the latter has gone well beyond the limits set down by the Holy Fathers and that he has caused damage to the Church. (Orthodoxie)

Making a military recruitment video is a challenge. In a single television spot, you have to convince someone to make the life-altering choice to enlist in their nation's military. America, traditionally, has always put out a true and tested message: Your life will be better for joining the team. We put forth an extreme effort to create an excellent, compelling commercials that plant the seeds of patriotism and duty. (BusinessInsider)

The animation, set with local music, guides the user through the various proposed facilities including the integration of payload on the Ukrainian Cyclone 4M rocket. (Article)