Like every other day, I was shopping this morning at my local bakery in Warsaw, Poland. As I was packing my purchases, a woman next in line after me ordered coffee in Ukrainian.
(We have it lucky. Polish and Ukrainian are mutually intelligible to some extent, which enables basic communication even without knowing each other's languages.)
I said, to no one in particular, "Do widzenia, слава Україні" as I was leaving. She reciprocated the customary "Героям слава" in an obviously moved voice.
Small things matter. We need to support each other in every possible way. Donating helps, so does showing solidarity, and so does spreading the word.
Будь в безпеці, zverok. Our thoughts are with you all.
On that topic, it's really interesting how presumably small things that nobody focuses on in particular can really make a difference (for good) for people in very dire circumstances (like the refugees are).
For example over here in Bucharest (from where I'm from) I've started seeing lots and lots of Ukrainian mothers taking their kids for a walk in downtown Bucharest relying only on their mobile phone's map apps. What makes that possible is the smartphone itself, which, however bad-talked as a technology piece is really helpful when you're hundreds/thousands of kms away from your actual home, plus free voice and data plans that were provided by the local telecom companies to all Ukrainian refugees.
Again, I know it's not much (after all, many of the Ukrainians who remained at home face the much more dire prospect of actual Russian bombs) but imo I think that it's important that as a refugee mother with your kids after you in a foreign country you sort of gain the autonomy of respecting your daily ritual of walking with your kid(s) without being assisted by anyone else. This "stickiness" to normalcy (like walking your kids unassisted in a foreign city where you've just arrived one or two days prior while escaping war) it's what also makes life worth living, in a way.
"(...) returned to Kharkiv to do something useful for the city. With no military experience and even no driving license, I do things on a very small scale"
The sense of due duty to your community beyond your family and your own life. I am not really sure I would have the courage to do that.
To Zverok: respect and good luck.
To the rest: support Ukraine.
I wouldn't fight for my country in an offensive war, it's an arbitrary construct that means little to me to but I would fight for my family, my friends and the people around me in a defensive war.
This is what shines through when you see things about the Ukraine in the news, these people are fighting for everything - it's about the maximum level of motivation that a people could have.
> I am not really sure I would have the courage to do that.
I don't know either. I think you can only tell when the time is there.
Coming from a western country, democracy, freedom and economic wealth is all taken for granted. Therefore, I'm not sure everybody would realise what we could lose.
When I look at my Ukrainian colleagues, they don't take that for granted. Their fight for those privileges is very recent, and was still ongoing. They definitely tasted it already.
So now this bastard Kremlin is trying to drag them back in the mud. I think their will to give their kids a prosperous life is higher than the pain they have to go through right now. They know the difference between the two.
They have all my respect, and definitely deserve the democracy and freedom they are fighting for right now.
You may be shocked what you're capable of when everything is on the line. Don't count yourself out until you (very hopefully never) are in the same situation.
On the topic of helping, does anyone have ideas/tips on how to help refugees attempting to communicate with the embassies in another country for refugee status/assistance?
I have extended family from Ukraine that speaks very little English and also can’t communicate in the countries native language that they fled to, but my partner and I cannot call those embassies to help relay information because we’re in the USA and our numbers don’t work. We have a few roundabout ideas to try(ie call the family on WhatsApp and be on speakerphone), but we’re wondering if anyone has experience doing this or knows of any agencies on the ground that are providing help around this?
Look for established and older Ukrainian diaspora groups in the country in question. Also many of the countries have established portals for refugees. Try to vet any helpers, unfortunately there are criminals that prey on refugees
If it's any help, I am helping to organise for the parents of my Ukranian friend to move to Bulgaria. And possibly a few other friends. It's picturesque in the mountains and Russian is widely spoken. Renting an appartment here is about 150 EUR/mo. If they are Russian speakers, they will have a bit easier time here than Poland, language-wise. Call me if I can help: +359 879 340194.
You could just contact Polish organization (if they are in Poland) if u want i can link few organizations.
Right now we have about 2milion UA refugees in Poland and about 2-3 million immigrants so they should be able to have normal life for a short period of time and communicate in Russian/Ukrainian in most places cause of enormous polish efforts otherwise they should go to Poland and from there you could start supporting them.
Locally we have Ukrainian (and Russian) Facebook groups full with people willing to help for such things. For anything else I've been using the speakerphone workaround.
What countries? If you've got fast internet, I've used skype international calling quite successfully before. Supported in quite a few places. Used it when I had to 'locally' call NZ from Japan once.
It is amazing how this inspiring willingness to fight for the bare essentials that the West has for so long forgotten the need to be ready to be fight for has transformed the West and given it meaning again.
Reminds me of Leo Strauss, a philosopher often cited by the neoconservatives and therefore of course dismissed by most of us but I think there's more nuance in his understanding of the world and this feels to me like a very Straussian moment
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Strauss
You are amazing, Ukraine! Fighting for freedom of thought in a world still half led by visions of totalitarianism. Visions that were not shed decades ago as we falsely believed.
It would be horrible if this war would end up reinvigorating neoconservative thought or any kind of ideology that sees geopolitics in terms of good vs. evil or ideology1 vs. ideology2 (e.g. freedom vs. totalitarianism).
> There is a rumor that Putin had recently made a personal order to damage as much of Kharkiv as possible, to retaliate for breaking the hope of being “pro-Russian.” And however absurd it might sound, I am close to believing it because there seems to be no other point in doing what they do now.
I have the same impression, just old bitter fart and shadow of a man he once was, entrenched in his untouchable position, throwing childish deadly tantrums on a nation that decided to stood up to him as one.
An idea - even if they laugh on ICT in Haag, what if there would be international arrest warrant on all those sanctioned persons including him, no diplomatic immunity? Meaning they can't travel most of the world, forever. Just a nuisance maybe. but proverbial death by thousand cuts starts somewhere. And remove russia from permanent UN security council for the duration of 'special operation', since they just veto everything now.
We should never violate the principle of diplomatic immunity, even if it's used by war criminals. The personal safety of diplomats is a crucial historical norm in the civilized world and is essential for preventing conflicts.
However just because someone has a diplomatic passport doesn't mean they have complete freedom of movement. Countries can deny them entry or deport them just like any other alien.
> An idea - even if they laugh on ICT in Haag, what if there would be international arrest warrant on all those sanctioned persons including him, no diplomatic immunity?
Maybe they would just implement their own “Hague Invasion Act”?[1]
[1]: Really the American Service-Members' Protection Act
It still seems illogical. Kharkiv had a huge Russian population. I had some friends from there who sighed "finally!" when they heard Putin started the invasion. They truly believed he would end the years-long conflict and finally they will live in peace on a territory more or less Russian. Today, there is no single Russian in Kharkiv who would support Putin or even believe what he says. He betrayed his own people.
[+] [-] nathell|4 years ago|reply
(We have it lucky. Polish and Ukrainian are mutually intelligible to some extent, which enables basic communication even without knowing each other's languages.)
I said, to no one in particular, "Do widzenia, слава Україні" as I was leaving. She reciprocated the customary "Героям слава" in an obviously moved voice.
Small things matter. We need to support each other in every possible way. Donating helps, so does showing solidarity, and so does spreading the word.
Будь в безпеці, zverok. Our thoughts are with you all.
[+] [-] paganel|4 years ago|reply
For example over here in Bucharest (from where I'm from) I've started seeing lots and lots of Ukrainian mothers taking their kids for a walk in downtown Bucharest relying only on their mobile phone's map apps. What makes that possible is the smartphone itself, which, however bad-talked as a technology piece is really helpful when you're hundreds/thousands of kms away from your actual home, plus free voice and data plans that were provided by the local telecom companies to all Ukrainian refugees.
Again, I know it's not much (after all, many of the Ukrainians who remained at home face the much more dire prospect of actual Russian bombs) but imo I think that it's important that as a refugee mother with your kids after you in a foreign country you sort of gain the autonomy of respecting your daily ritual of walking with your kid(s) without being assisted by anyone else. This "stickiness" to normalcy (like walking your kids unassisted in a foreign city where you've just arrived one or two days prior while escaping war) it's what also makes life worth living, in a way.
[+] [-] xwdv|4 years ago|reply
Be safe!!
[+] [-] ilyich|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] pantulis|4 years ago|reply
The sense of due duty to your community beyond your family and your own life. I am not really sure I would have the courage to do that.
To Zverok: respect and good luck. To the rest: support Ukraine.
[+] [-] noir_lord|4 years ago|reply
I wouldn't fight for my country in an offensive war, it's an arbitrary construct that means little to me to but I would fight for my family, my friends and the people around me in a defensive war.
This is what shines through when you see things about the Ukraine in the news, these people are fighting for everything - it's about the maximum level of motivation that a people could have.
[+] [-] koonsolo|4 years ago|reply
I don't know either. I think you can only tell when the time is there.
Coming from a western country, democracy, freedom and economic wealth is all taken for granted. Therefore, I'm not sure everybody would realise what we could lose.
When I look at my Ukrainian colleagues, they don't take that for granted. Their fight for those privileges is very recent, and was still ongoing. They definitely tasted it already.
So now this bastard Kremlin is trying to drag them back in the mud. I think their will to give their kids a prosperous life is higher than the pain they have to go through right now. They know the difference between the two.
They have all my respect, and definitely deserve the democracy and freedom they are fighting for right now.
[+] [-] cguess|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] scrose|4 years ago|reply
I have extended family from Ukraine that speaks very little English and also can’t communicate in the countries native language that they fled to, but my partner and I cannot call those embassies to help relay information because we’re in the USA and our numbers don’t work. We have a few roundabout ideas to try(ie call the family on WhatsApp and be on speakerphone), but we’re wondering if anyone has experience doing this or knows of any agencies on the ground that are providing help around this?
[+] [-] dimitar|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] davidzweig|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] komuher|4 years ago|reply
Right now we have about 2milion UA refugees in Poland and about 2-3 million immigrants so they should be able to have normal life for a short period of time and communicate in Russian/Ukrainian in most places cause of enormous polish efforts otherwise they should go to Poland and from there you could start supporting them.
[+] [-] Symbiote|4 years ago|reply
There are Facebook groups here in Denmark seeking Ukrainian speakers etc, there might be ones for the country you need.
[+] [-] fer|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] JusticeJuice|4 years ago|reply
https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/
[+] [-] mfontani|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pabs3|4 years ago|reply
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30715307
[+] [-] redwood|4 years ago|reply
Reminds me of Leo Strauss, a philosopher often cited by the neoconservatives and therefore of course dismissed by most of us but I think there's more nuance in his understanding of the world and this feels to me like a very Straussian moment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Strauss
You are amazing, Ukraine! Fighting for freedom of thought in a world still half led by visions of totalitarianism. Visions that were not shed decades ago as we falsely believed.
[+] [-] toyg|4 years ago|reply
Who is "we" exactly...? Because the GWB presidency was very much an embodiment of such a vision, and it was only stopped by a literal hurricane.
[+] [-] keybored|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] notsureaboutpg|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] JSeymourATL|4 years ago|reply
Just to let you know, We see you!
And yes, donations sent.
Keep up your spirits and good work. Please take care!
[+] [-] moneywoes|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] saiya-jin|4 years ago|reply
I have the same impression, just old bitter fart and shadow of a man he once was, entrenched in his untouchable position, throwing childish deadly tantrums on a nation that decided to stood up to him as one.
An idea - even if they laugh on ICT in Haag, what if there would be international arrest warrant on all those sanctioned persons including him, no diplomatic immunity? Meaning they can't travel most of the world, forever. Just a nuisance maybe. but proverbial death by thousand cuts starts somewhere. And remove russia from permanent UN security council for the duration of 'special operation', since they just veto everything now.
[+] [-] nradov|4 years ago|reply
However just because someone has a diplomatic passport doesn't mean they have complete freedom of movement. Countries can deny them entry or deport them just like any other alien.
[+] [-] keybored|4 years ago|reply
Maybe they would just implement their own “Hague Invasion Act”?[1]
[1]: Really the American Service-Members' Protection Act
[+] [-] hdjjhhvvhga|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Timwi|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tgz|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|4 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] oldiphone|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ystad|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] VictorPath|4 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] tut-urut-utut|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] throwaway-m3232|4 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] jmnicolas|4 years ago|reply
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