(c) Oleksiy Kustovsky

Signs That You're Looking at Ukraine Through a Russian Prism

by Mariam Naiem

1. Perceiving Russian culture as apolitical Culture is political. Russia weaponizes its heritage, promoting a 'great Russia' myth to normalize the subjugation of other 'lesser' cultures. Literary classics become tools of cultural supremacy. 2. Perceiving this war as 'fraternal' Russian propaganda portrays Ukraine and Russia as inseparably linked peoples. This concept ignores Ukraine's aspirations for independence and self-determination and imposes the idea that, at the core, we are one and the same. 3. Pushing reconciliation with Russian opposition This narrative ignores the power imbalance. Any dialogue must be on Ukraine's terms, if and when Ukrainians choose. External pressure for reconciliation is unacceptable. Ukraine's agency is non-negotiable. 4. Explaining Ukraine to Ukrainians Explaining Putin's motives, Ukrainian history, Dostoevsky's relevance to Ukraine, and so on implies that you possess superior knowledge of the topic compared to Ukrainians, which is not true. Ukrainians have deep insights into Russia's actions based on historical experience and direct impact. Such explanations, even if well-intentioned, might come across as patronizing or dismissive of Ukrainian expertise. 5. Suggesting capitulation Urging Ukraine to yield? It won't end the war. Russia regroups, and casualties mount later. Ukraine's fight is for survival, severely limiting compromise options. Respect Ukrainians' difficult position and right to determine their future. 6. Whataboutism "Other conflicts exist" isn't a reason to help less – it's a call to help more. Each crisis deserves its own focus. Don't use comparisons to justify inaction on Ukraine. 7. Claiming Ukrainians don't deserve help Questioning a nation's worthiness of aid based on alleged issues can be seen as justifying inaction. It's more constructive to focus on the current situation and humanitarian needs. Consider the actions of the aggressor rather than criticizing those defending themselves. 8. Not my war A nuclear-armed autocracy attacking a democracy is everyone's problem. It's not about values – it's about time. This war isn't yours today, but ignore it, and it'll be at your doorstep tomorrow. Ukraine's front line is democracy's front line. P.S. Consider the Ukrainian perspective and try to imagine their experiences. It’s important to avoid assuming how one might act in their situation. What Ukrainians may need most is genuine understanding and support. The key is to listen and empathize.

LEO ! (platonic way)

mine’s leo, what's yours? 🩷

(actually I love them all equally, despite I always had a crush on leo-)

Sometimes I see this misunderstanding and I'd like to clarify it. When Ukrainian say "russian drones/shahed drones/iranian drones," we don't mean this kind of drones:

We mean THIS kind of drones that can carry a warhead and are essentially used as missiles:

While they're not as large, destructive and difficult to intercept as, say, ballistic missiles, they can still cause significant damage. Russia launches them at us every night, but most are successfully shot down.

our ukrainian literature teacher is telling us about the executed renaissance (розстріляне відродження) and my blood runs cold as I'm listening to all these terrible things soviet union did to ukrainian artists. they literally slaughtered all of teh ukrainian artists who wouldn't create propagandistic artworks. sent them to gulags, psychologically (and probably not only psychologically) tortured them there. it's so fucking horrible I just can't put it into words. and all those westerns who glorify soviet union can go to hell. my people suffered for centuries AND YOU ROMANTICISE THE OPPRESSOR WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING A HALF OF THE HORRIBLE THINGS THEY DID

I wonder if it's a sign of better or worse mental health when you wake up to loud explosions outside your window and immediately go back to sleep because "they sound closer to another neighborhood than mine" and "unless the explosion shakes my house, sleeping is more important"

Ніч . Ти лежиш , намагаєшся заснути . Лунає телефонне повідомлення "Повітряна тривога" . За декілька секунд в далечі чується сирена і ще одна і ще одна поки не зазвучить найближча до тебе . Це все зливається в страшну , але вже звичну , симфонію болю .

Але ти лежиш виснажені , втомлені . Проходить час і настає тиша та такий бажаний сон .

Тобі рано вставати

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Це старий текст . Не знаю чи часто таке буде виставлятися . Прошу вказувати на помилки та давати поради

Following the declaration of independence on this day 33 years ago, the All-Ukrainian referendum on Ukraine's independence took place in December 1991. To be independent is a conscious choice of the Ukrainian people. Happy Independence Day! Glory to Ukraine!

Source: MFA of Ukraine

Museum and home of famous Ukrainian painter flooded

The home of famed Ukrainian painter Polina Raiko is under water as a result of the Kakhovka dam destruction.

Polina Raiko was a self-taught painter and an important figure in Ukrainian naïve artistry. Raiko passed away in 2004 at the age of 75 but her home became a museum and a national cultural monument of Ukraine.

True russian culture is about deliberately destroying and stealing the cultures of the nations they despise and view as lower than theirs.

I usually don't post news from Ukraine here but I can't keep quiet about what happened today. Russians missile striked children's hospital where a lot of children are treated from cancer and other serious health issues. Many of them have limited mobility.

15 people are already dead, more than 30 are injured, there are still people (children included) under the rubble. The strike was premeditated and planned, you can see from the video that the missile just striked directly, it wasn't deflected by the air defence.

They are killing our children and then lie that this isn't a children's hospital but a military one. They're been doing that for years in Syria and they haven't changed their vile tactics. Moreover, they attacked other cities as well. More than 40 missiles of differect types, more than 30 people killed and 50+ injured around the country so far. The number will grow once the rescuers deblock the bodies from the destroyed buildings.

Please don't forget about Ukraine and what russia is doing to us. We're still being killed, they are killing our kids and civilians.

russia is a terrorist state.