Ukraine

[NickFaulks]

As UK now has more F35s than pilots qualified to fly them, he might be lucky.

Does Ukraine have pilots qualified to fly F35s? Asking because I don't know.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

This is relevant to this topic:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/kramnik-b ... on-the-war

Kramnik breaks his silence on the war

[Matt Mackenzie]

Though not to actually say all that much.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Also relevant to this topic is this event at the UK parliament on 22 March 2023 (next Wednesday):

https://en.chessbase.com/post/uk-ukrain ... match-2023

UK vs Ukraine solidarity match reaches Parliament

The British chess boom reaches Parliament on Wednesday 22nd March, with two events hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The first will be the opening ceremony of a UK vs. Ukraine Solidarity Match, with the UK number one, Michael Adams, taking on the Ukrainian champion Andrei Volokitin, who is currently living as a refugee in Poland with his family. In the second contest of the day over the board, the GMs will captain teams of MPs and Peers as they battle for bragging rights in a match between the House of Lords and House of Commons.

Earlier and similar event I noticed that also has a Chessbase article is this one from May 2022:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/ukraine-f ... atch-paris

Ukraine vs France solidarity match in Paris

Four French champions will gather at Blitz Society [...], the hip new chess meeting point in the heart of Paris, for a rapid match against four champions from Ukraine. The match will take place on Saturday, May 14, starting at 17.30 CEST. Donations for Ukrainian relief efforts are being collected by UNICEF!

There was also an event in Berlin on 1 March 2023:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/in-berlin ... or-ukraine

In Berlin: Solidarity simul for Ukraine

A year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Berlin Chess Federation organized an event to mark its support for the Ukrainian people. First, a simultaneous exhibition was given by Ukrainian grandmaster Zahar Efimenko. Then, an international panel discussed the consequences of the war for the chess world.

[Mick Norris]

Mickey is black in game 1 now underway

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well."interesting" things happening in Russia just now.

[Simon Rogers]

I am still worried that if Putin feels that he is losing the war. He could launch a low yield tactical nuclear weapon against Ukraine.

[Simon Rogers]

Just been announced that the leader of the Wagner group has been killed in a plane crash in Russia.

[Ian Jamieson]

Just been announced that the leader of the Wagner group has been killed in a plane crash in Russia.

Unless you have heard more recent news I think what was said was that he was listed as a passenger on a plane which has crashed with no survivors. While it is probably the same thing I would like to see confirmation he was on board and his body if possible before I assume he is definitely dead. Otherwise the KGB could just be “disappearing” him.

[Matt Mackenzie]

It is now being widely reported that both he and another key Wagner operative were indeed on the plane in question.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"While it is probably the same thing I would like to see confirmation he was on board and his body if possible before I assume he is definitely dead."

Looking at the footage on BBC website, allegedly showing the crash, I think it would be difficult to identify anyone on board.

[Ian Jamieson]

"While it is probably the same thing I would like to see confirmation he was on board and his body if possible before I assume he is definitely dead."

Looking at the footage on BBC website, allegedly showing the crash, I think it would be difficult to identify anyone on board.

Convenient if you have a suspicious mind.

As I said I’m not saying he definitely isn’t dead just that there’s a small (very small?) chance that he isn’t.

Edit

According to the BBC I’m not the only one with a suspicious mind. They quote a Dr Yuri Felshtinsky, a former advisor to the Ukraine Foreign Office, as saying he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Prigozhin had somehow managed to escape death.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Convenient if you have a suspicious mind."

Yes...

[Matthew Turner]

A prominent chess player receives the Order of Courage from President Zelensky in Ukraine

https://twitter.com/gmkovalenkoigor/sta ... g285Qx8etg

[Gerard Killoran]

Hypocrisy anyone?