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Sep 20 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
1/3. Five years ago in New York, the Ukrainian poet and novelist Serhyi Zhadan and his band performed a ska cover of the Clash’s 'Know Your Rights' with #OnTyranny as the lyrics. "Listen to friends in other countries... like Ukraine" they sang.
2/3. After the show, Serhyi Zhadan signed his novel of the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine. I reread the novel on the train to Kyiv last week.
3/3. Thank you, Serhyi, and other Ukrainian friends, for taking risks and speaking out. There’s still time to listen to Ukrainian friends.
Serhyi Zhadan and his band:

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More from @TimothyDSnyder

Timothy Snyder Profile picture
Sep 22
Russia is undertaking a media exercise regarding Russian-occupied Ukraine, which its propagandists call "referendums" on annexation by Russia. People elsewhere are struggling to characterize this action. I am going to propose "obscenity" and "element of war crime." 1/
The point that people make about these media exercises is that it would be illegal to hold referendums during an armed conflict and under the threat of the use of force. This is of course true. 2/
And it is of course reason enough to ignore these media exercises completely. But it is just the surface of the problem. 3/
Read 21 tweets
Timothy Snyder Profile picture
Sep 21
1/8. Putin’s speech demonstrates that Russia is losing. Given casualties and desertions, Putin wants bodies in occupied Ukraine to defend against Ukrainian counter-offensives. That’s pretty much it.
2/8. It’s not just Russian forces in Ukraine that are in retreat. Putin himself is clearly afraid. He’s done something he plainly didn’t want to do. Announcing mobilization shows he fears his fascist rivals more than he fears the Russian public.
3/8. Russian protests are announced for tonight (this afternoon US time). Maybe they will happen, though it’s very tough. The main reaction will be that men flee the country (happened today) and hide.
Read 8 tweets
Timothy Snyder Profile picture
Aug 18
Often imperialist expansion turns quickly against those who enjoy it. A good example of this is on display in the Russo-Ukrainian war in the form of Russia's plan to fake "referenda" on joining Russia in the occupied Ukrainian territories. 1/16
Until now there has been no forced mobilization of Russian citizens to fight in Ukraine. Instead, Russian citizens (unless they are Asian or poor) generally watch the war on television. 2/16
The spectacle they will soon be presented on television is that of "referenda" on the territories of Ukraine that Russia occupies. Although Russians may not realize this, the "referenda" are really about them. 3/16
Read 16 tweets
Timothy Snyder Profile picture
Jul 23
Putin's rule is weakening. 0/
We now regularly hear now from people aside from Putin (for example former prime minister and president Dmitri Medvedev) about the meaning of the war, the catastrophic consequences that await Ukraine and the West, and so forth. This is a sign that Putin is losing control. 1/
Usually the news coverage of such pronouncements focuses on their content. It is tempting to get caught up in the Russian fear propaganda. But the real story is that people aside from Putin now feel authorized to make such proclamations. Before the war there was less of this 2/
Read 29 tweets
Timothy Snyder Profile picture
Jul 2
Russia has a hunger plan. Vladimir Putin is preparing to starve much of the developing world as the next stage in his war in Europe. 1/16
In normal times, Ukraine is a leading exporter of foodstuffs. A Russian naval blockade now prevents Ukraine from exporting grain. 2/16
If the Russian blockade continues, tens of millions of tons of food will rot in silos, and tens of millions of people in Africa and Asia will starve. 3/16
Read 16 tweets
Timothy Snyder Profile picture
Jun 11
Russia has a hunger plan. Vladimir Putin is preparing to starve much of the developing world as the next stage in his war in Europe. 1/16
In normal times, Ukraine is a leading exporter of foodstuffs. A Russian naval blockade now prevents Ukraine from exporting grain. 2/16
If the Russian blockade continues, tens of millions of tons of food will rot in silos, and tens of millions of people in Africa and Asia will starve. 3/16
Read 16 tweets

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