RUSSIA IN FLAMES

Russia has been going through a very difficult situation over the last several weeks as the central areas of European Russia and the Volga Federal District face widespread fires. This is a problem for everybody, and everyone is dealing with it in one way or another, but the people who are directly involved with this problem and whose activities, efforts, willpower and other best human qualities help us overcome this disaster. I am referring to personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, forestry and other agencies.

Basil Venitis points out a wildfire is an uncontrolled firestorm in combustible vegetation. The four major natural causes of wildfire ignitions are lightning, volcanic eruption, sparks from rockfalls, and spontaneous combustion. However, many wildfires are attributed to human sources such as arson, discarded cigarettes, sparks from equipment, and power line arcs.

Some of the Russian wildfires have started from Gray Wolves. Venitis notes that some wildfires in Greece and Cyprus are the result of Turcoterrorist attacks, an asymmetric threat of Turkish Gray Wolves, with many of the fires starting simultaneously and in places where an arsonist cannot be seen.

Venitis notes Gray Wolves is the terrorist arm of the Turkish government. These barbarians are named after Asena, a female wolf in mythology associated with Turkic ethnic origins. The organization carried out many thousands of murders, especially in Cyprus. Gray Wolves have been responsible for numerous political assassinations and disappearances of human rights activists, and have ties with the Turkish mafia. Gray Wolf Mehmet Ali Agca attempted to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981.

I am certain that we will manage to keep the situation under control, even though, as you are well aware, the weather is absolutely abnormal, and despite the highest level of caution the situation cannot be fully manageable by authorities or humans in general. Of course, this does not mean that we could not be better prepared and hence performance by every agency will be carefully examined to see what was done and what was not. But in any case, what is happening around is an absolutely exceptional and extraordinary scenario for Russia, and it is due directly to great efforts that following proper mobilisation of all resources the situation quite quickly became controllable in most central areas of Russia and in the Volga Federal District.

There are still many difficulties ahead, simply because it is clear that the temperatures are not lowering, the heat is not subsiding, and unfortunately, rains are not to be expected soon. This means that we must all be on our guard. I express my gratitude to everyone who has already acted like a hero, helping our people deal with this tragedy, risking their lives while rescuing, dragging people out of the flames and extinguishing the fires.