UKRAINE UPDATE AND WHAT’S AHEAD — WE’ll SEE…
By Vincent Lyn
Since my recent Humanitarian Aid & Rescue Mission to Ukraine I wanted to update you on recent events and the future planning and logistics of an upcoming trip and bigger mission back to Ukraine.
After Ukraine my first meeting was with the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia with Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee Rihards Kols. He was extremely impassioned in documenting all the crimes against humanity being inflicted on the Ukrainian citizens and holding the perpetrators accountable. He brought up the fact that a 100-year-old former Nazi guard had gone on trial last year, facing charges for 3,518 deaths. “So whether it takes 100 years justice will be served.” Let’s hope it happens sooner than that? We’ll see…
I also had an amazing interview with Mansur Abdulmuslimov for his Youtube Site “Breathe in & Out” — War in Ukraine & Humanitarian Aid. Definitely worth watching as it gives you a glimpse into my recent experiences in Ukraine and humanitarian endeavors around the world. Very powerful and thought provoking with many recent viewers from Ukraine. We also plan on doing a follow-up interview after my next mission to Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fimXWPdQLI&t=18s
Arriving in London I got in touch with a dear friend from 30 years ago when we first met doing film in Hong Kong, Winston George Ellis, now an established actor, producer, director and CEO of https://www.rayzoredge.film/about-us.
Winston had approached me 3 years ago before COVID-19 decided to hold the world hostage about doing a documentary/docudrama about my life as a humanitarian. With my recent trip to Ukraine the concept once again sprung into action and now we have a treatment written by his Creative Director Jamie Chambers and a working title: Silent Hero/Lost Generation/Renaissance Man. Winston also is good friends with Prime minister Boris Johnson’s Special Adviser to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, Myles Stacey OBE. Winston had spoken with Myles on many occasions about my trip to Ukraine and about setting up a meeting with PM Boris Johnson. Though because of his scheduling issues it didn’t happen this trip but in Myles Stacey words, “The PM definitely wants to meet with me”. So hopefully it will happen on my next trip to London. We’ll see…
I was also introduced to quite a few high profile celebrities, movers and shakers, politicians in the U.K scene. One was famous restaurateur Ciro Orsini who owns an established restaurant in the glitzy district of Knightsbridge one of many restaurants he owns all over the world. Ciro also runs a nonprofit organization whose partner is famous award-winning actor Armand Assante. Ciro recently came back from Afghanistan rescuing a girls soccer team and got them to safety in Islamabad and is heading back there very soon to bring them all back to the U.K. We have already decided to work together and I have been in touch with Armand Assante to meet when I return to NYC. In Armand’s words, “it’s imperative we meet”.
I also met with Nic Careem, a social entrepreneur who’s connected with all the ins and outs of the business and entertainment world. Nic had me sign an exclusive House of Commons Journal he has been compiling for more than 20 years in honor of former South African President Nelson Mandela. With messages from Sir Paul McCartney, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown and David Cameron, it could rank as one of the world’s most sought-after autograph books. It contains tributes from the world's most eminent politicians, musicians, artists, actors and businessmen. I’m very honored to leave a humble message in recognition of a global icon for millions who embraced the ideal of human equality.
I was invited to speak at the Houses of Parliament with top Members of Parliament Tim Laughton MP and Chris Law MP discussing my recent Humanitarian Aid & Rescue Mission to Ukraine and documented atrocities and how further the U.K Government can assist my Foundation We Can Save Children to help aid Ukraine. I was a little surprised after telling them my documented atrocities. They were stunned at the severity. But maybe everyone is at this point. One MP asked me what they can do for me though no sooner I was about to answer the question the MP from Scotland asked me has the U.K government done anything to aid my foundation We Can Save Children. Well my answer was emphatically, “Nothing yet”! We’ll see…
Since returning to NYC my phone has not stopped ringing from news agencies asking for interviews and articles, United Nations meetings to talk about recent documented atrocities and was asked to tell my heartfelt story for the July 16th Ukraine aid concert a virtual streaming 90+ minute event featuring top international artists, performers, actors, athletes and celebrities from Europe, Israel, the U.S., Canada and Ukraine to raise $10 million through certified non-profits to ease the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian military invasion and occupation of Ukraine. https://www.worlduniteforukraine.com/
Looking forward ,we and the TEAM from Latvia are already in preparing stages for a return trip to Ukraine at the beginning of July on a much bigger Humanitarian Aid & Rescue Mission and this time bringing a film crew to document the trip. There is much that will remain secret until we are there on the ground for the safety of the TEAM and logistics which must remain private for obvious reasons.
The reason I repeat the phrase, “We’ll see” is that my experiences dealing with politicians and government institutions is the interminable bureaucracy that undermines every decision that seems to be made for the greater good but is usually shot down at the 11th hour. It reminds me of the story of the Zen Master and the Little Boy!
- The boy’s father bought him a horse for his fourteenth birthday and everyone in the village said, “Isn’t that wonderful, the boy got a horse?” and the Zen Master said, “We’ll see.”
- A couple of years later the boy fell from his horse, badly breaking his leg and everyone in the village said, “How awful, he won’t be able to walk properly.” The Zen Master said, “We’ll see.”
- Then, a war broke out and all the young men had to go and fight, but this young man couldn’t because his leg was still messed up and everyone said, “How wonderful!” The Zen Master said, “We’ll see.”
Not everything that looks like progress necessarily is; and even where we do see overall benefits, we will still see unintended consequences.
P.S
Friday May 6th, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said evacuations will continue from the besieged coastal city of Mariupol amid sustained Russian shelling. An estimated 200 people are thought to still be trapped in Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant, with little access to food or water. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said shelling of the southeastern city will only stop when Ukrainian troops surrender. The Kremlin’s bid to capture the whole of Mariupol is likely linked to Monday’s annual May 9 “Victory Day” celebration, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry. As concerns about Russian escalation grow, U.S. President Joe Biden announced an additional military aid package for Ukraine.
May 4th, Russian missiles struck power plants in Lviv, knocking out electricity and seriously damaging the water supply in much of the western Ukrainian city near the Polish border where tens of thousands of civilians fleeing fighting in the east have sought refuge. The attacks were the most widespread strikes inside the city since the war began, and came as the Russian military pressed its attacks on Ukraine’s railway system, the country’s lifeline to Poland, carrying both humanitarian aid and supplies for the military.
And so, while most of us live in our secure little bubble or so you are made to believe, we spoke with our colleagues in Ukraine and the members of the City Council of Lviv to talk about our next trip in July. They said, “ That they will prepare everything for us, IF THEY WERE STILL ALIVE…They are not planning anything ahead so far out”.
Puts life in perspective…
HOPE IS WAITING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO SOMETHING!
Vincent Lyn
CEO/Founder at We Can Save Children
International Human Rights Commission
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations
Middle East Correspondent at Wall Street News Agency
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts