As we mark a year of hell in Ukraine, we must never stop defending freedom

A year of hell

A YEAR ago tomorrow Russian invaders poured into Ukraine expecting to be greeted by adoring “liberated” locals, just as their lying leader told them.

Hundreds of thousands of those troops are now dead or wounded.

Their tanks and jets are blackened wrecks. Russia is a pariah, Putin reviled and mocked.

This anniversary gives us a moment to marvel at the bravery of Ukraine’s forces and people. But their ordeal goes on.

Putin will shell their cities to dust and feed limitless young Russians into the meat grinder in his lust for conquest.

The West must never let him succeed, nor waver in our defence of President Zelensky, his nation and freedom.

Botched Bill

A NEW law targeting spies could also criminalise journalists exposing scandals.

The Government now accepts that — and to its credit has tweaked its wording.

But it hasn’t gone nearly far enough.

As it stands the National Security Bill could still trap reporters and sources of stories embarrassing to the Government and likely to benefit a foreign power.

That cannot stand. When scandals arise, the public’s right to know is the priority. There must be a public interest defence and a journalistic exemption.

The Home Office should go back to the drawing board.

Border bungle

WE know Rishi Sunak is desperate to clear the appalling 160,000-plus asylum backlog.

But an effective amnesty for 12,000 applicants is dangerous and outrageous.

Yes, Britain should welcome genuine refugees from warzones.

But to wave in thousands from certain troubled countries based merely on a flimsy questionnaire is a gift to fakers and criminals.

How certain is No 10 that it will not put the public at risk?

Where are the homes for those “fast-tracked” arrivals and their families, who are also invited?

The PM has vowed to clear the backlog this year and “stop the boats”.

He’ll need a miracle to do either.

Poor patrol

WE wish we could just laugh at the insanity of burly cops quizzing a mum about her “flashing” toddler — and even ticking the terrified little lad off.

There’s no accounting for the busybody who phoned plod as Marley waved to neighbours starkers from his window at bathtime.

But what possessed officers to follow it up? He’s three, not 63.

The failing Staffordshire force has a dismal 2.5 per cent burglary clear-up rate.

It’s in special measures, condemned for ineffective investigations.

Is it hoping to improve its stats by lowering the bar to cheeky pre-school kids?