In folklore and legends, the figure of the old black witch often emerges as a dark, mysterious and malicious character. The old black witch is often portrayed as an elderly woman with a sinister appearance, typically with dark, wrinkled skin and a long, crooked nose. This depiction associates the witch with negative connotations and reinforces stereotypes of black magic and evil powers. Throughout history, the old black witch has been the subject of fear, superstition, and suspicion. In many cultures, witches, particularly those of African descent, have been accused of practicing dark arts and causing harm to others. These accusations often led to persecution, discrimination, and even execution.
“From where we are, we couldn’t see the Russian positions. But from the recon drone I can see them constantly mucking about in the rear. So I said, ‘What if we put a Mark 19 on a pickup truck, race up the ‘Road of Life’ [one of the few supply lines Ukraine maintains with Bakhmut] stop behind a hill and lob a full magazine of grenades at them. There’s enough time to empty out all 32 grenades and be gone before return mortar fire reaches us. I did the math!”
Ukraine also appears to have acquired Chinese 60-millimeter shells via Albania, Japanese-manufactured bombs and fuses likely supplied via the United States, and even Iranian and Croatian mortar rounds. Interviews were conducted in three areas live flying zones, areas where drone flights had occurred in the past, and in communities where drones had never flown before.
These accusations often led to persecution, discrimination, and even execution. The portrayal of the old black witch is deeply rooted in racism and prejudice. The stereotype of the wicked witch, with her black skin and unusual features, perpetuates harmful stereotypes about black people and contributes to the dehumanization and marginalization of an entire race.
The Witch of Ukraine Reveals How 'Teeny-Weeny' American Weapons Are Beating Russians
A female Ukrainian soldier says a U.S.-supplied light mortar and grenade launcher turned the tide in a desperate battle.
By Sébastien Roblin Published: Feb 23, 2023 saved contained icon An empty outlined icon indicating the option to save an itemThe United States has supplied weapons of increasing cost and sophistication to Ukraine including M777 towed howitzers, Javelin top-attack anti-tank missiles, and eventually M1 Abrams main battle tanks and Patriot air defense systems.
But military aid need not always be exotic to have an impact. Starting before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine one year ago and continued since, the U.S. also provided modest quantities of low-tech infantry support weapons—M240 and M2 machine guns, 60-millimeter mortars, Mark 19 automatic grenade launchers, and M82 Barret sniper rifles.
These small arms have made their way both to elite commando units, but also to some of Ukraine’s most under-equipped troops, where they are making a difference as testified by Olha Bihar, known by her callsign “Witch” (Vyzdma).
Formerly a lawyer working on her Ph.D., Witch now commands a mortar platoon in the 204 th battalion of the 241 st Separate Territorial Defense Force (TDF) Brigade. At least 57,000 women serve in Ukraine’s armed forces, including at least 13,000 in roles near frontline combat.
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The lightly armed 241 st —ostensibly formed for local defense of the capital Kyiv—was one of several brigades thrust into the thick of the fighting for Bakhmut, a town in Eastern Ukraine of middling strategic value that has become an obsessive focus of Russian offensive operations. Since the fall of 2022, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers and mercenaries have been killed or wounded attempting to capture the city.
In a video, Witch recounts an intense battle between October 5-8, 2022 when her platoon defended Bakhmut’s Siniat ALC asphalt mixing plant. (Her translated comments have been lightly altered for concision.)
“The battle was brutal. We faced the enemy three times our number in close quarter gun fights—and Russian long-range artillery on top of that. The Muscovites [Russians] were able to penetrate a quarter of the territory we were defending…So, the orcs occupied part of the planet and we set out to provide fire support to our people pinned there. The fire support team had to work from a depression, without a line of sight.”
“As far as artillery, all we had was a small 60-millimeter mortar—firing range 1.5 kilometers [1 mile] at most. And the American Mark 19 grenade launcher, that saved our butts on multiple occasions, despite its equally short 2 kilometer [1.24 mile] firing range. But again, you don’t see what you’re shooting at, you fire blindly, guided from a drone.”
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Though intended for direct fire as particularly beastly machine gun, the Mark 19 can be adapted for high-angle indirect attacks, a method improvised by a Marine unit to dispatch Taliban ambushers in Afghanistan. Reportedly, tables for indirect fire between 900 meters to 2 kilometers were included in prior Mark 19 field manuals, but not the latest publication.
“In my platoon, I have this hothead name Sheva. He supported us with the Mark 19 in that depression to fire ballistically [in an arc] at the attacking Russians—you have to shoot carefully so as not to hit your own troops. He fires one—nails a Moscovite right in the ass. Fires a second—hits another one. Sheva is holding off the Russian attack when suddenly the Mark 19 jams.
“Meanwhile, the Russians called in the artillery and started adjusting it towards Sheva’s position. Without much deliberation, Sheva whips out that teeny-weeny mortar, basically a toy, an oversized under-barrel grenade launcher. He sticks it into the ground and starts blasting. Just look at how he was aiming it!”
In the interview, Witch produces a cell phone video in which Sheva can bee seen adjusting the mortar’s firing angle by propping it up with a chunk of rock.
“How else were you gonna aim it? That old American mortar didn’t have a bipod. Yet he managed to hit the same enemy trench three times with it. Russian artillery eventually wounded Sheva and his entire crew. He was forcibly evacuated, because he refused to leave, and I had to threaten to arrest him if he didn’t go to the hospital. A shell fragment had busted his helmet and sliced his rifle’s [noise-reducing] suppressor cleanly in half, as if with a knife. When he left, the first thing he did was to pluck a rose. Bakhmut is famous for its roses.”
This is not Witch’s only story involving Bakhmut, Sheva, and their creative use of American weapons, as recounted in an earlier video.
“From where we are, we couldn’t see the Russian positions. But from the recon drone I can see them constantly mucking about in the rear. So I said, ‘What if we put a Mark 19 on a pickup truck, race up the ‘Road of Life’ [one of the few supply lines Ukraine maintains with Bakhmut] stop behind a hill and lob a full magazine of grenades at them. There’s enough time to empty out all 32 grenades and be gone before return mortar fire reaches us. I did the math!”
Though the driver was “aghast,” they gave the idea a try:
“Minefield to the right, minefield to the left, orcs in front, clear line of sight. They swerve the truck, loose a full belt of 40-millimeter grenades. As soon as they dart off, mortar bombs begin falling where they just stood. We terrorized them for two whole weeks this way.”
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Intercepted communications apparently revealed Russians forces were vexed by the ‘devil’s chariot,’ which seemed to combine the rate of fire of an automatic grenade launcher with the trajectory of a mortar.
The asphalt plant eventually fell to Russian troops in mid-October 2022, only to be recaptured later that month by a Ukrainian counterattack. Control has seesawed since. While Russia has struggled to hold any parts of Bakhmut proper, it has made progress interdicting all but one of the road Ukraine relies upon to resupply the Ukrainian garrison. Ukrainian forces may therefore eventually be compelled to withdraw while a line of retreat remains open—but only after having absorbed much of the brunt of Russia’s winter offensive.
It is important to challenge and reject these harmful stereotypes and representations of the old black witch. Real-life witches, or those who practice witchcraft, come from diverse backgrounds and should not be stigmatized or demonized based on their race or appearance. Witches today are often peaceful, spiritual individuals who strive for harmony and connection with nature. By challenging and dismantling these negative portrayals, society can work towards breaking down racial stereotypes and embracing diversity and inclusivity. It is crucial to promote understanding, tolerance, and empathy rather than perpetuating harmful stereotypes that further marginalize certain groups of people. In conclusion, the portrayal of the old black witch in folklore and legends perpetuates harmful stereotypes and contributes to racial discrimination. It is important to challenge and reject these representations, promoting understanding and acceptance instead. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society..
Reviews for "The Old Black Witch's Artifacts: Uncovering the Relics of her Power"
1. John - 1/5 - I found "Old black witch" to be quite disappointing. The storyline was confusing and lacked any clear direction. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations were unclear. Additionally, the writing style was dull and lacked any excitement or suspense. Overall, I regretted spending my time reading this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Emma - 2/5 - "Old black witch" had an interesting premise, but unfortunately it failed to deliver. The pacing was extremely slow, and it felt like nothing much was happening for the majority of the book. The dialogue was poorly written and often felt forced. I also found the main character to be unlikable and difficult to relate to. While the book had potential, it ultimately fell flat and left me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Old black witch" as I enjoy supernatural thrillers, but I was left disappointed. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. The writing style was overly simplistic, and the author failed to fully explore the potential of the story. The characters were one-dimensional, and I struggled to connect with any of them. Overall, I found the book to be mediocre and forgettable.
4. Michael - 1/5 - "Old black witch" was a complete waste of time. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow. The writing was confusing and rife with grammatical errors. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth. I found myself struggling to maintain interest throughout the book and was ultimately left unsatisfied. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
5. Lisa - 1/5 - I was highly disappointed with "Old black witch". The story was slow-paced and lacked any real suspense or excitement. The characters were uninteresting and their actions often felt forced. The writing style was bland and uninspiring. I found myself struggling to finish this book, and when I finally did, I felt like I had wasted my time. I would not recommend "Old black witch" to anyone looking for an engaging supernatural thriller.