In occupied Kherson the Russians don’t want to open a humanitarian corridor and instead hand out food which they just looted from Ukrainian shops while filming it all for Russian state TV cameras t.me/kharkiv_1654/2…
Meanwhile mini dictator Lukashenko gave a speech explaining why they must “defend their southern border for the security of the continent and maybe even the whole world” (yes, really) t.me/pul_1/4936
Irpin, Kyiv oblast. Russians shelled a residential building, destroyed to the ground. They seem intent on destroying everything in Ukraine with the state TV cameras rolling. Mass insanity. t.me/ukrainenowengl…
This is the spartan first aid kit Russian soldiers were sent into battle with. The Ukrainian refers to it as “die soldier”. t.me/ChernigovAnoni…
This is Ksenia Sobchak’s mom, a Russian senator. Putin is long rumored to be Ksenia’s secret godfather. Putin worked for her late father. Today Lyudmila Narusova said: “conscripts were forced to sign contracts, of one company of 100 men, only 4 survived”. t.me/kievreal1/9964
This is notable because it is the first evidence I can recall at all of anyone within the Russian government criticizing anything about this “special operation” = Putin’s war so far. Because of who she is, LN might just get away with it. Might be staged to look like debate.
Ksenia left Russia a few days ago for Turkey with her son, but claims it’s a long planned holiday because of a school break. She says she plans on returning. google.at/amp/s/www.m24.…
Reportedly a bridge being blown up between Transnistria (Moldova) and Ukraine; not sure who did this I assume Ukraine to protect from invasion from that direction t.me/xydessa/17424
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I am extremely tired of seven days a week “explaining” Austria, a country which is also not my homeland, to Ukrainians. The gist of it is: no one cares what your circumstances are and don’t expect any exceptions or special treatment. It’s a hard pill to swallow.
This has led to 48 hours of debates. I will blog about it soon. In the meantime, more end of school year drama (not giving Ukrainian kids passing grades), and a phone call tonight which knocked the wind out of me.
As many of you know, Mama Olya had a stroke in early April and has been in hospital in Vienna ever since. I have been visiting nearly daily. This takes a huge emotional toll. Respect to all those who work in medicine; I could never ever do it.
Ukrainian moms are desperately asking me if Austria ever plans to move them from Grundversorgung to Mindestsicherung. I tell them honestly, I don’t think so. They tell me it is impossible to survive. With a small kid can’t work. I say I know and I am sorry. Another country?
I cannot lie and tell them I expect any changes on the political level because I don’t. Federal and 9 states are already doing only the absolute bare minimum. I hear no discussions in media about improving Grundversorgung conditions or moving them out of it.
If any journalists would like to do a deep dive on the payments and handcuffs I know volunteers who know the numbers inside and out. It is complicated and very opaque, and differs by Bundesland. I tell the Ukrainians the following.
Just realized the last time I took a long distance bus I was a teenager. I feel wholly unprepared. I do not see the promised WC nor free wifi (eeek). Everyone seems to have done this before. The bus is completely full: women, kids, pensioners. Two drivers. €190 round trip 🧵
I found the toilet AND actually more importantly, the plug for the charger. Hallelujah! Did you all know Hofer is Aldi in Hungary? We just passed a huge distribution center. I am amazed by how quiet and considerate ALL the passengers are. Even the kids. It’s unbelievable.
I naively didn’t quite understand the bus actually makes all the stops. Budapest.
The infamous dorm in Vienna’s 11th district is closing for good. All residents must move out by this Friday night. A team of volunteers is organizing cars & people to help with the move: many residents are elderly and/or handicapped. They need volunteers & wheels. Pls DM.
I am so dumb. I naively assumed when @Stadt_Wien said all dorm residents would be assigned new housing in Wien by April 15, that would happen. Now I am hearing some residents will be sent TO THE ARRIVAL CENTER. Nightmare. Some may refuse to leave…could potentially get ugly.
This is an absolute shitshow. I should have known. It did not have to be like this if anyone cared. These are vulnerable Ukrainians who have been under extreme stress for months.
I asked the Ukrainians in my group about their success or lack thereof in finding legal paid work, and this was one of the replies. These energy bills are insane. They need guidance as renters…ugh.
A poll so far shows a mixed bag: some cannot work (caring for kids or handicapped relatives), some don’t look as working would render them homeless (social housing) and they cannot afford a deposit/rent, others no luck so far, still looking. Some want to finish A2 German first.
Some are working and no longer receiving benefits. One man in his 60s texts from the arrival center — he already has a job offer but no blue card bc no address bc no housing assignment yet. The labor market is not making the most of this opportunity. Bureaucracy is once again… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…