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:
Liubov Tsybulska @TsybulskaLiubov
“Kill them all!” - Russian occupiers get orders to kill civilians. New intercepts. https://t.co/daGE4Hae9u
Bianna Golodryga @biannagolodryga
.@USAmbUN here with Moldovan PM Gavrilita, announces an additional $50 million in aid towards a broader initiative to help the country manage the multiple challenges it is facing as a result of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine. This is in addition to a previous $30 million in aid. https://t.co/Ye6fKQyxY7
Thomas van Linge @ThomasVLinge
Very concerning news. Marianna, the pregnant girl from #Mariupol, turns out to be one of the refugees that has been taken to #Russia in violation of the evacuation agreement. There they put her in front of a camera and have her say there was no aerial attack on the hospital. https://t.co/SLJMAGeFTy
Motoko Rich @motokorich
A grim aftereffect of years of war in Syria: many men are now taking jobs as mercenaries. Hundreds are headed to fight for Russia in Ukraine. If they die, their families will get just $10,000 for life. https://t.co/v2YsHKIHik @NYTBen @hwaida_saad @AsmaaOma
The Kyiv Independent @KyivIndependent
⚡️Co-leader of the pro-Kremlin Opposition Platform – For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk’s yacht, Royal Romance, was seized in Croatia on March 16 following sanctions imposed amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.Russian Embassy, UK @RussianEmbassy
FM #Lavrov: The goal of Russia’s special military operation is to stop any war that could take place on Ukrainian territory or that could start from there. https://t.co/tLf7798DIh
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.