Interesting video about Russia’s economy after the Ukraine invasion:

With the recent mobilization of 300,000 troops there has been an exodus of smart and resourceful Russian men who have left Russia. These men will go to a better country with more freedoms, using their talents outside Russia to have families, build wealth and start new companies.

If I was living in modern Russia I would have left right after the invasion of Ukraine.

One of the many reasons the United States has had the strongest economy in the world (since 1871) is our talent pool of clever young men who work hard, start new companies, and become a part of a stable middle class.

What about all the Russian young men who join the Army and fight in Ukraine? MANY of them will never come home, lost to an unmarked grave in eastern Ukraine. Some soldiers will come home with severe chronic injuries, some will come home with internal PTSD and drink themselves into an early grave.

What happens to the wives and children who have to deal with broken and disabled husbands and fathers? What happpens to the older people who lost a son, with no one to help them out as they get older.

My parents are in their 70’s, they live near me in Florida and I’m staying in this area to be near them as they get older. They don’t need me now, but they probably will if they reach their 80’s and 90’s.

Families need fathers and sons, wives need their husbands… and this pointless war has robbed many Russians and Ukrainians of their fathers and sons and husbands.

The war in Ukraine is very personal for me.

My fiance Olga is from Kyiv, she came here with her daughter Vlada this past June to live with me, out of harm’s way. I call them my “Ukrainian Delegation”, which makes Olga laugh.

I’m the thorn between roses in this pic, for sure…..

Last week, when the Russian army started bombing Kyiv (again) I saw how this made Olga and Vlada feel sad and stressed. Vlada’s father lives in Kyiv, in an apartment block. He’s escaped harm’s way thus far… I pray for his safety on a daily basis.

Vlada misses her former life back in Kyiv, she wants to go back to Ukraine to go to college… but there is no way I could sleep if I knew she was over there.

I was in Lviv back in April when the air raid sirens were going off. Makes me realize how SAFE we are back here in Florida. I’ll take a hurricane over missile attacks anytime…. and I can avoid alligators by not going near the local pond…

I felt a spiritual calling to volunteer in Ukraine, and having Olga and Vlada in my life these last few months has been a blessing… something good that came from something bad, indeed.

As for the war… Russia has finite munitions, finite men, and finite WILL to wage war over a long period of time. Putin has finite years, hopefully finite MONTHS.

For now I’ll continue to take care of the Ukrainians under my care, and pray that Peace comes sooner rather than later.

Ben Alexander

October 18th :: 2022