Glimpses of the Horrors of Ukraine
Impressions of Russia's "special military operation" to commit mass atrocities.
I’ve mostly been using Substack to write essays, including about Ukraine. But my reactions to Ukraine have often been impressionistic, based on particular photos, videos, communications intercepts or other bits of information emerging.
So instead of writing an essay, today I’m just sharing some of my recent tweets about Ukraine, often including material that I found particularly moving, inspiring or appalling. Here you go:
Utterly chilling.
Liubov Tsybulska @TsybulskaLiubov
THREAD from Bucha.
We met Mykola. He and his wife spent a month living in the cellar of his apartment building. When the Russians arrived, they killed all the men below 50. He’s 53. He told us this shaking with the trauma of it. They gave him 20 minutes to bury his friends.
For those looking for a nonprofit to support that does good work in Ukraine, check out @razomforukraine
The best way to avoid a conflict between NATO and Russia in the future is to help Ukraine stop Putins killing machine in Ukraine now. It is really that simple. A Putin loss in Ukraine makes conflict with NATO less likely. A Putin win makes conflict with NATO more likely.
Moldova deserves every bit of support the West can offer. It is next on Putin's meal plan, and Russia already occupies a chunk of it. Moldova for many years has bravely tried to orient itself toward the West, without ever being much noticed. It deserves assistance.
Bianna Golodryga @biannagolodryga
The Bucha Massacre is the new emblem of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Putin can't escape it. A question for China, UAE and other countries that have tried to stay neutral:
How many of these massacres before you find your soul?
- Hello,darling,I looted, raped, tortured and killed in #Ukraine. But I am sending you a TV, air conditioners,e-scooters and other goods.
I watched the 3-hour CCTV recording from a courier service in Mazyr, #Belarus. Russian servicemen send endless packages with what they stole
Russia appears to have kidnapped a pregnant woman who had been photographed by @AP in Mariupol and forced her to appear in a hostage video denying Russia's bombings in Ukraine. Russia's propaganda machine is as odious as its military machine.
Thomas van Linge @ThomasVLinge
Heartbreaking in every way. Putin is finding another way to kill Syrians, this time in Ukraine.
Motoko Rich @motokorich
A fundraiser to support Ukrainian news organizations, paying for security equipment, drivers, relocation and more: gofundme.com/f/keep-ukraine… Ukrainian journalists are risking their lives and have done an outstanding job.
Special podcast episode w/ @NickKristof is out! This was one of my faves. We debrief his run for Gov and then dive into the war in Ukraine: no-fly zones, chemical weapon “red lines”, cyber attacks, journalists, social media, and America’s role #orpol
A joke from Moscow: "According to Putin the special military operation is really a conflict btw Russia and NATO about World dominance. Whats the situation now?" "Russia has lost 15000 troops, 6 generals, 500 tanks, 3 ships, 100 planes and 1000 trucks. NATO hasn't arrived yet."
It would be poetic if all these Russian yachts that are being seized could be used to house Ukrainian refugees.
The Kyiv Independent @KyivIndependent
It turns out that George Orwell is alive and writing statements for Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:
Russian Embassy, UK @RussianEmbassy
Surely--surely--I cannot be the only person who recognizes (subliminally or otherwise) the smokescreened sentences being buried behind these brutalities, expressed so devastatingly and succinctly by survivors and witnesses. These crimes against humanity are most often committed by members of half of humanity (in this or past wartime efforts). Yes, silence is complicity. But men are not the sole enemy here; perhaps our "smokescreening" the reality of mass male violence...is. Perhaps. Nick, talk about that. Such discussion might help us all explore the root of one of humanity's greatest problems (as you and your fabulous spouse know well). ~RD in San Diego
We in the US need to do here in the un-United States what is being done in Ukraine; defend democracy. As the saying goes "what's the difference between an Ukraine & a republican; the Ukraine defends his capitol" Instead we get to hear that the former president is still in contact with Putin in order to get "dirt" on Hunter Biden. This is beyond the pale. I wonder if the invasion of Ukraine was hatched in Helsinki? At this point how much better is the US than Russia. As much as we can help Ukraine we are morally obligated to do so but, we need to get our house in order too.