Amnesty International has released a report stating that Russia is unequivocally an active and contributing party to the war in Ukraine.  Again, this is something that has been “known” for a long time, but as with the OSCE announcement last week, it is good to have neutral confirmation.  Today, Russia refused to meet with UI to discuss the report.

What Russia is doing, however, is highlighting parts of another (or maybe the same) AI report that documented abuses by the warring parties.  Again, a known issue, with some particularly brutal occurrences being done by the rebels against civilians who didn’t support them.  The Ukrainian army or their affiliated militias aren’t angels either, but those incidents have been far less brutal and lethal.  Nevertheless, Russian media is highlighting the reported abuses by the Ukrainian side while downplaying or dismissing the abuses by the Russian and rebel side.  In other words, textbook hypocrisy.

Mariupol has been relatively calm for the past couple days, but things are definitely not returning to normal. Although there is no active military engagements, there are still things happening in and around the city.  I read a report yesterday that the Russians/rebels (at this point there’s hardly a difference) were using the lull to reposition artillery and fortify positions.  Apparently such activities are excluded by the truce and cease-fire.

In Mariupol, there was some unusual but ultimately non-disruptive activity surrounding the president’s visit.  Poroschenko promised some additional personnel and hardware to defend the city, but I have not read if that has arrived or been deployed yet.  The most tell development is kind of a “curfew” and cordon around the city from 10pm to 6am each night.  It is to keep saboteurs from entering the city, but having been to Mariupol, I’m wary of its effectiveness.  People will need to provide proof of residence to enter the city during the curfew hours, and I presume that patrols on the street might be on the look out for “suspicious” people during that time.

My wife says they are doing OK, but “waiting every day for the shelling.”  It seems most people in Mariupol are sure that the fighting around their city is not yet over, and given history and what I’ve been reading, they are probably right.  I really hope that won’t be the case, but it is not a strong hope, I have to say.