Thread by @JBelcourt73

I don't know how long this thread will go, or how many threads this topic will require its going to be lengthy. Before I begin, a bit of house keeping. @MontayBayBay for @curtmoss8

So lets dig into Ukrainian bravery. I am not going very far back into time. No talk about Viking heritage, facing the Mongols, Napoleon or Hitler. Those people are gone. They belong to the past. Our story starts in Nov 2013 when Yanukovich betrayed his nation and ignored the law

ordering him to turn towards Europe. Instead as a good lackey he attempted to prostrate Ukraine before Putin's feet. The people rallied against him and for their efforts had the security services turned on them. People were shot, kids were beaten but the protests only grew. One

Maidan protestors was Roman Ratushny, he was beaten but did not back down. Later he would also defy the government to protect a park and later during the invasion as an adult took up arms to defend his country. The Russian's killed him, his comrades fought for several days to

recover his body determined to deny Russia the trophy of someone who was on their liquidation lists, but I am getting ahead of myself. Despite crackdowns and rumored Russian snipers the protestors eventually won and forced the stooge to flew to.... yup Russia. He is still there

today. His flight triggered Russian military action and the start of the war. Ukraine was caught flat footed, her military was anemic and unprepared, yet she rallied and had the Russian proxies on the back when Russian intervened directly leading to a moment of extreme bravery

is now known not to be a one off but a indelible part of the Ukrainian people. This video shows The Cyborgs signing as they face off against impossible odds. Russia should have known then that Ukrainians were no push overs.

Russia however only knows avarice, hubris and envy and does not learn easily. Putin thought he could take the whole country or enough of it that whatever was left in the West would wither and could be taken in due time which brings us to Feb 24. Things went off the rails from the

very first bullet. The "elite" VDV tried to seize Hostomol airport and got mousetrapped by Ukrainian rapid reaction forces which included @StarskyUA. The battle was a defeat for the Russian's and any quick move to seize the capitol died with the paratroopers on the tarmac. Far to

south another epic event was unfolding. The Russian cruiser Moskva showed up off of Snake Island and demanded the small garrison surrender. We have all seen this image: Russian Warship Fuck Off. Though I ahve been told a better translation is, "go jump on a dick".

This small act of defiance set off a battle over the island that would eventually cost the Russian's their flag ship, several other vessels and helicopters, advanced SAM's and hundreds of lives before they retreated. Back to the north, with the air assault defeated there was

still a ground invasion to deal with. The stories from this part of the war are epic. Everyone thought Russia was a military powerhouse and the blush had definitely not come off the bloom yet. That did not stop the defiance. From little old ladies offering invaders sunflower

seeds to blacksmiths who made swords and armor turning their skills to making giant anti-vehicle caltrops Ukrainians were spitting on the idea that Russia would simply roll them.

Ukraine mobilized and we all saw the pictures of dads kissing their children goodbye. Contrast this video of a father sending his family to safety so he can go to war with what we saw later when Russia tried to call up her manpower leading to a mass exodus of cowards fleeing

Russia. There is perhaps no greater contrast between the two sides in this war than this.

Well maybe one... Ukraine mobilized her men, but often they did not go alone. Ukrainian women went with them. Women like Helena and Kateryna Polishchuk (Birdy) went with them into the hardest parts of the fight. mirror.co.uk/news/world-new…

The stand of the Azovstal defenders will go down in history, but not because it was a singular event, but because it shined a light on who Ukrainians were when put under pressure. Selfless dedication and incredible heroism seems to be the norm. From @ZelenskyyUa saying, "I don't

need a ride I need ammunition" to Vitaly Skakun trading all his tomorrows to buy his comrades one more by blowing up a critical bridge. Everywhere the Russian's turned they were faced with Ukrainians who would not budge. No matter what Russia has tried it has not worked. At

Svievierodonetsk firing 60,000 shells a day did not break Ukraine. In front of Bakhmut human wave attacks and thermal munitions have failed to force the defenders to cry uncle. Russia has suffered 92K dead and hundreds of thousands of wounded and captured, has lost most of her

equipment and been forced to retreat over and over again and yet she still does not get it. The Ukrainian bravery isn't machismo, its not braggadocio it is a stoic acceptance that what must be endured can be endured and that what needs be done must be done. Every level of

Ukrainian society has demonstrated a resolve that will ring through history like a bell. Unable to defeat the Ukrainian military Russia has resorted to terror attacks on civilians to try and cause a mass exodus. Instead of civilians fleeing we are seeing generators flow in.

these people will not budge. Even when the Russian's gain a piece of Ukraine, they simply go underground. They know where they stand is Ukraine now and forever. The occupation is only temporary express.co.uk/news/world/169…

I wonder how many flags are buried in Crimea? Speaking of underground, I dare not forget the partisans. Stay behinds, commandoes and civilians with attitudes have made life hell for Russian occupiers. From assassinations to ferreting out where Russian commanders or supplies were

hiding so they could be destroyed, to propaganda ops spreading fear among the soldiers. They do this despite the threat of arrest, torture and execution. Nothing Russia has tried in its #genocideofukrainians has worked. Russia thought she had a hammer but Ukraine is the anvil

that hammer has shattered on. Ukraine will fight to be Ukraine even if all they have is rocks or takes 200 years. Thats where we come in. They best way we can pay homage to them is to make sure they don't have to use rocks or wait 200 years. Thats why I tag @JohnBoozman,

@SenTomCotton, and @RepFrenchHill every day telling them to send more, send better and send now. It's why I rep charities like @MriyaAid, @LibertyUkraineF, @UkraineAidOps, @3xR_team and @U24_gov_ua who I donated to today as promised.

All Ukraine is asking of Russia is to leave them alone. All she is asking of us is to give her the tools to make Russian leave them alone. Until Ukraine Wins on Ukraine's Terms: Slava Ukraini! @mfa_russia <--- still losing because you can't beat a people who wont be cowed.

PS: I totally forgot the Ukrainian farmers. Not generally seen as a brave profession from snatching Russian tanks to trying to feed the world from mined fields they deserve respect and honor as warriors in their own way.

@threadreaderapp unroll please