Thread by @e_l_g_c_a

I find the collective, deliberate amnesia, as well as the refusal to acknowledge the many nuances & complexities, that both birthed & raised this tragic #UkraineRussia war, quite simply - absurd.
In this video from April 2014, acting #Ukrainian president Turchynov announces the #ATO against his own citizens in Eastern Ukraine prior to the Geneva Summit.
Consider this for a moment, why was it a Revolution of Dignity in the #Maidan yet a Terrorist Uprising in #Donbass?

On April 16, the 2nd day of the campaign, Ukrainian military moving into Sloviansk, the focal point of the pro-Russia forces, gave up their equipment. The armory was brought to the center of town where it had become a local amusement. Elsewhere, crowds of pro-Russia protesters stopped a column of Ukrainian troops in Kramatorsk and made them disarm.
I believe that most people, including the army that was sent to carry out the ATO in the east, were in utter disbelief of what was happening. Those that disarmed and switched sides didn't wish to go to war against their own people.

On April 16, the 2nd day of the campaign, Ukrainian military moving into Sloviansk, the focal point of the pro-Russia forces, gave up their equipment. The armory was brought to the center of town where it had become a local amusement. Elsewhere, crowds of pro-Russia protesters stopped a column of Ukrainian troops in Kramatorsk and made them disarm.
I believe that most people, including the army that was sent to carry out the ATO in the east, were in utter disbelief of what was happening. Those that disarmed and switched sides didn't wish to go to war against their own people.

A video from the New York Times from early spring 2014. Both sides provide insights. If you see enough of these, you should pick up on the consistencies from the pro-Russian side especially when it comes to their perception of the new government in Kyiv and their wish for self-determination.

Western coverage post the Geneva Summit on Ukraine (a precursor to Minsk I & II) and the almost immediate deterioration with both sides pointing fingers at each other despite more evidence supporting Russia's complaints.
Legacy media was still using "activists", "pro-Russian militias" & "separatists" as a term of reference. They since uniformly adopted "Russian-backed separatists or militants".

June 2014: This video is extremely hard to watch. Despite Poroshenko's calling for a cease-fire, shelling of civilians continues in Sloviansk and surrounding areas. "If Poroshenko had experienced a tiny bit of that - or his relatives had been bombed."

Meanwhile, Poroshenko

July 2014: Human Rights Watch begrudgingly admits that the evidence strongly suggests that the Ukrainian Government Forces are responsible for civilian deaths.

Aljazeera 2014 covering the shelling of Donetsk. The Ukrainian Government Forces deny the use of Grad rockets and blame the "terrorists" for trying to shed a bad light on them. Aljazeera shows footage as evidence to the contrary.

Here is the infamous Turchynov who was now the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine lying on camera about the existence of rogue militias but also saying that he would do the same thing, if it happened again. In an interview with the BBC, he admitted that in 2014, when the first volunteers went to war, he was personally giving them weapons, but not all were clean in the eyes of the law: "And I personally signed the orders for the weapons, many were worried about what would happen if they did not follow those orders with a weapons. Indeed, we didn't check anyone at that time, if they were convicted previously or not – whoever said that they are ready to defend the country, signed up, received weapons and went to the East of our country."

Newsnight 18 months post Maidan: The Far-Right Group threatening to overthrow Ukraine's government. A young Da Vinci on Poroshenko "The President is a nobody. We didn't stand on Maidan for him to give 'special status' to Donetsk. He's a nobody, he's betrayed Ukraine. NOW THERE WILL BE A THIRD MAIDAN BUT THIS TIME WITH GUNS". Wouldn't it have made more sense to include these factions on the receiving end of the ATO? One side, for the most part, wanted sovereignty and protection of their minority rights, the other wanted blood.

Newsnight 18 months post Maidan: The Far-Right Group threatening to overthrow Ukraine's government. A young Da Vinci on Poroshenko "The President is a nobody. We didn't stand on Maidan for him to give 'special status' to Donetsk. He's a nobody, he's betrayed Ukraine. NOW THERE WILL BE A THIRD MAIDAN BUT THIS TIME WITH GUNS". Wouldn't it have made more sense to include these factions on the receiving end of the ATO? One side, for the most part, wanted sovereignty and protection of their minority rights, the other wanted blood.

This is not meant as a justification, but context is important. Wouldn't a sober approach to compromise then potentially have prevented this tragedy? While we can’t change the past, demanding a return to the negotiating table may just change the future.

I posted this thread to document coverage of Ukraine in 2014 and prior to 2022. I deliberately used Western media sources. I stated that these are posted for context. Unsurprisingly, these are still deemed “fakes” and Russian propaganda and I was still called the usual variety of epithets. But …but…but…Girkin was brought up 10 times yet not a single one of those people showed any sympathy or understanding. So I guess I’m just going to continue posting.

Channel 4 News UK Feb 23, 2014 (No Girkin in sight / No little green men in Crimea). Pro-Russian protesters out to defend their municipal buildings as they are worried about who is going to get in power in Kyiv. The reporter makes note of how there are few pro-Maidan counter protestors. Crimea is even more tense, violent protests with the 🇺🇦 flag being removed and the crowds demanding independence.

BBC 2014 in Donetsk: People feeling disappointed in and abandoned by Russia for not stepping in to help.

BBC 2014 in Donetsk: Do you see what they say about us on Ukrainian TV? Do we look like terrorists? But if need be, we will become them”.

BBC 2014 in Donetsk: Everyone in Kyiv / Maidan is convinced that everyone in the East is brainwashed, everyone in the East is convinced that everyone in the West is brainwashed”. “At least give us autonomy, I don’t think Putin wants us”

BBC 2014 in Donetsk Oblast: “We just want to be heard & want order”. This family is unique, they watch both Ukrainian and Russian coverage, after showing a video of school kids shouting “hang the Russians”, he asks, we are the separatists? We are the bad guys? Some interesting closing remarks from this family as well.

Vice News 2014: An old lady, show this to the rest of Ukraine. My own daughter (who lives in Western Ukraine) doesn’t believe me, she says everything is ok here, show them this”.

Vice News 2014: Thank you, please show the world what our Ukrainian National Guard is doing to us. They are defending us by destroying everything? Where is the world, the EU, why isn’t anyone saying or doing anything as we’re getting killed? Please, for G-ds sake, help us.

Vice News 2014: This one is very hard to watch. The man wants to know why peaceful civilians are the targets. This is what a lot of new geopolitical “experts” are missing, how are these people meant to forgive and forget?

Video from August 2014: “ The Ukrainian army was aiming at the separatists, but somehow they hit the residential area again. They claim it was an accident”. They hit a hospital and residential buildings (including a direct hit in the city centre). Also a little commentary from the OSCE.