Gorlovka article

http://www.weststandbogs.co.uk/gorlovka-john-moyes-2/

I know a few of you have been asking after the relatives in Ukraine. Just to update - they're still there and weighing up their options. The ceasefire has given them a little breathing space, but nobody seriously expects it to last. Thanks to Jay and Jimmy Cricket for giving me the push to get this article written.

 

Hope everything works out for your family mate. That's a very good informative read that certainly brings perspective to things on here that's for sure.

 

Fantastic article John. Almost brought a tear to an old cynics eyes.

 

Superb piece of writing, John. I wish I could offer words of comfort to you and your wife, but I can't & it'd be asinine to even try . Please keep us updated as best you can of your family's plight, mate.
Football really is an irrelevance in comparison.

 

Great article. Best wishes to your family, hope everything turns out alright.

 

Brilliant piece of writing.

 

Thanks for that John.. Don't know what to say. Except I hope EVERYBODY that reads the BBS reads your piece .

 

Many thanks to all of you for your kind comments, and indeed to everyone who took the time to read the article.

 

Good article

Hope they are ok

 

Thanks for bringing this home to us. Those people stood by the town of Barnsley and the mining community in general in 1984/85.

Its time to repay the debt as they clearly need our help.

 

Interesting read that mate. Hope your family are ok throughout all what's going on.

 

Within a city so large, both sides of the conflict will have a number of people who support them. I understand that in a civil war, which essentially this is, the population of a town don't all back the same side. It's not that simplistic. However, what is the general consensus, do the people of Gorlovka tend to back the Russian separatists or the Ukraine government?

I think it's fair to say that the vast majority in the UK (and Barnsley and South Yorkshire) side with the Ukraine. It shouldn't matter, our sympathies should be with these people whoever they support. We should want to help, whoever they support. However, from what you've written, I have a feeling we're all going to have to do some complex thinking.

 

That was a fascinating article, John and I appreciate you sharing it. Best wishes to those involved, if only we 'could' help somehow?

 

Wonderful piece

 

A very thought provoking article John. Best wishes your family and here's hoping for a speedy resolution to the conflict.

 

You're right that this is not a simple question to answer. I don't personally know anyone from Gorlovka, so I can't say anything with any concrete authority. However, I can piece things together and start to draw some conclusions. My wife's relatives, a Russian-Ukrainian couple incidentally, categorically blame Putin for the conflict. This is one of the reasons why they are so hesitant about coming to Russia, as they feel that somehow in doing that they'd be showing approval for what they see as Putin's destruction of their homeland. All of this is understandable. They are not overly political people, and want to live, first and foremost, in safety, preferably in a united Ukraine. However, a friend of mine here also has relatives from the same area in Ukraine who have already escaped to Russia, has told me that under no circumstances will they return to Donbass until it is officially separate from Kiev's control. The reasoning for this, quite simply, is that their property was destroyed by artillery fire that was clearly from Ukrainian government forces. As my friend said, "once any government has fired at its own people, they are no longer their own people". And so this leads me on to Gorlovka. Gorlovka has been one of the worst affected places for civilian casualties from government fire, so it would be a fair guess that the majority of them are anti-Kiev. Add that to the years of state neglect of the heavy industry, dubious privatisation deals (sound familiar?) and it's not hard to work out why many local people are so disaffected with the central government. They're miles away from places like Gorlovka, in every way. I'm no great fan of Putin to put things mildly, and I'm reasonably sure that regular Russian troops are present in Donbass. However, it is also true that as Putin says there are plenty of volunteers fighting there as well. I know this for a fact. Also, if we go back to the Crimea referendum - whilst the figures were probably manipulated somewhat, I am almost certain that even if it had been carried out properly, the people would still have voted for secession by a comfortable majority. After years of financial neglect from central government, again this is hardly surprising. So, a very complex situation, far less cut and dried than the picture often portrayed by the UK media. Having said that, the Russian media is in a league of its own for one-sided reporting, but that's a whole different article!

 

John, awesome read even if the subject is telling us of an awful situation. I hope that Sasha's family keep safe and well.

As you have eloquently written, it puts it all in perspective. I think as we all get older and experience the things that happen in the world and around us, football takes a back seat. The days of getting upset about losing a game or what another manager or rival fan says about us doesn't get me riled like it once did.

Life's about living and things like this show the rediculousness of Governments, and dare I say it, the male race. Testosterone fuelled men ruin the world, further fuelled by religious fanatasicsm. Sometimes I cringe watching the news, and sometimes it makes you feel ashamed to have a **** and 2 balls.

 

I'm still racking my brains as to how we can help effectively. I'll let you know if I come up with anything. Any ideas from your end would also be much appreciated! I might start by getting in touch with the lad who runs the BFC Russian fans' page. This would seem like a logical starting point.

 

Have you been in touch with the local papers and radio stations to help bring peoples attention to it?
Maybe it could snowball from there. Maybe some of the folk on here have connections?

 

I've put out some feelers already. The main problem is going to be getting stuff delivered to an area which to all intents and purposes does not have a government. Will keep you updated.