Thread by @nastasiaKlimash

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, I was probably contacted by more people than I knew. And up until today, I’m stunned by the kindness, understanding, and support I get from almost everyone around. Everyone, except my Russian relatives. They never reached out. 1/

I left Dnipro after spending 3 weeks with my parents, and for the past two nights, RU's been shelling the city. I know it’s unreasonable, but I can’t help but feel guilty for not being there. Meanwhile, our RU relatives haven’t bothered to contact my family ever since Feb 24. 2/

These people visited us before, in Ukraine, and had our warm welcome; they know perfectly there are no Nazis here, but they don't care about their country waging this unjust war against us. Right now, our family in Ukraine is rather a liability for them. Uncomfortable facts 3/

I repeat: they know everything. My RU relatives have been watching my Insta stories about the war since Feb 24 and remained silent. Some, quietly unfollowed me later, including my Russian cousin who lives in Germany. It’s not like FSB is breathing over her shoulder there. 4/

About two years ago, we met with my RU cousin and her German husband in Copenhagen, visited DAC, ate some quality food, went to a dodgy club, giggled at some weird people there, had a chat. You know, the usual stuff bored millennials with degrees from European universities do. 5/

She's an architect, not a brainwashed dropout Vanya from a deprived RU village with no internet (but even that is nonsense, they all have access to the information, don't infantilise them). Her husband remained silent too. Speak of the influence of the Russian world, amirite? 6/

Her brother in Moscow, who several years ago told my mom, "you need to understand, we don't make any decisions here," also, for a week or so, watched my IG stories with photos of buildings obliterated by RU missiles, and unfollowed me too. My mom was babysitting this guy. 7/

My story is not exceptional. Many of my friends facing the same. Their RU relatives are either silent, or teach Ukrainians about what’s aktchually happening in Ukraine (of course, it’s all the fault of the decadent West), or saying, “yes, but we’ll never know all the truth.” 8/

Many were surprised by such RU behaviour. Not my family. Back in 2014, While the RU missiles were flying over my parents' heads in Donbas, my RU cousin called my mom and screamed at her telling her she shouldn't say anything bad about Russia. Back then, she studied in France. 9/

And her mom, my aunt, phoned as well, telling my mom that "our Russian girls are now getting bullied here in France; they are called invaders because of you!" Say what? Later, we somehow got back to talking to these people every now and then, almost as if nothing happened. 10/

Except for when they wanted to visit us. Then we were telling them that Crimea is Ukraine, and if they didn't agree, they were not welcome in Ukraine (and they didn't agree). I’m still not sure why we kept in touch. We, Ukrainians, always were way too patient with Russians. 11/

Did our patience and keeping in touch with our RU relatives despite all their shit help? As you see, nope. It just made things worse. Sometimes a silly thought pops into my head, “How will we ever forgive them?” But then I remember that nobody is asking us for forgiveness. 12/

When foreigners are calling for a dialogue with RU, I just laugh. We tried it all. If anything, our biggest mistake was being pushovers way too long. Not anymore. Being nice just doesn’t work with Russians. Russia has to be defeated, and for this, we need to #ArmUkraineNow.