Back Story Newsletter
Good morning,
Copenhagen
The 22 yr old gunman who rampaged through Field’s shopping mall in Copenhagen Sunday night was somehow known to police, but his motives for killing three people, are so far unknown.
According to police this was not racially motivated, and they are looking into how he obtained a rifle used in the attack.
Ukraine
The Russians have taken the last city in the Luhansk region after fierce fighting by Ukrainian forces in Lysychansk ended in a defeat and strategic withdrawal.
The city gives the Kremlin bragging rights, but little else there as residents have fled the onslaught and there is little infrastructure left standing.
The Russian defense ministey used the words “liberation” pushing the propaganda inside Russia Putin is freeing Russian speaking centres. But this invasion is nothing but a brutal land grab, displacing millions and demonstrating Putins dreams of restoring an empire will come at a horrendous cost.
So NATO will have to rethink its long term strategy in support of Ukraine, even as President Zelenskiy vows Lysychansk and other occupied centres will be retaken.
Today leaders from dozens of countries, international organisations and the private sector gathered in Switzerland on Monday to hash out a "Marshall Plan" to rebuild war-ravaged Ukraine.
The UK wants to lead the way in reconstruction of Ukraine and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has spoken of seizing Russian assets to pay for it.
Truss told MPs last week she was supportive of the idea that the government could seize frozen Russian assets in the UK and redistribute them to victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
She said: “I am supportive of the concept. We are looking at it very closely. The Canadians have in fact just passed legislation This is an issue that we are working on jointly with the Home Office and the Treasury, but I certainly agree with the concept. We just need to get the specifics of it right.”
Back Story Podcast
On this Back Story the incredible tales of rescue's in Ukraine from the head of project Dynamo, Bryan Stern, an American Vet now saving lives in a war zone.
And the Int. Crisis Group's Olga Oliker, on the remote chances for talks to end the war in Ukraine. And how there are indications of escalation before one side or both are ready for a pause in the war.
The audio podcast link is here - (Copy and paste into your browser)
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/10890467
Other News…
-A large chunk of glacier broke loose and slammed into hikers on the Marmolada mountain in the eastern Dolomites, rescue services said. At least six people have been killed
-The "Halo" safety device saved Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu at the Formula One race in Britain Sunday. Guanya was involved in a horrific crash at the Silverstone Grand Prix as his car collided on a turn flipped and landed upside down. He was injury free
-A terminally ill Russian physicist who was arrested in Siberia on suspicion of treason has died in custody after being flown to Moscow. Federal Security Service (FSB) officers took Dmitry Kolker, 54, from his hospital bed in Novosibirsk on 30 June. He had pancreatic cancer but his family is accusing the state of murder. He is suspected of spying for China
Have a good Monday everyone.
Dana Lewis