There are myriads of apparent reasons why Ukrainians are fighting. But in this thread, I’d like to consider other, not entirely obvious, reasons.
Why don’t Ukrainians accept the Russian world? What is the Russian proposal for the world order?
Here I won’t include facts about Russian terrorist attacks on the civil infrastructure or rapings. It’s almost impossible, but I will consider their “pure proposal” without those crimes.
Ukrainians know a lot about Russians.
We had friends and even relatives in Russia. We watched their TV shows and read their news. We know the context of their life. They have polished and lovely pictures on TV, but the truth can't be hidden.
I regularly see how people close their eyes to the fact that Russians actually live in shitty conditions. You might’ve seen a lot of beautiful pictures of Moscow, Saints Petersburg or other big cities. But that’s it.
If you go 50 km from Moscow, you will be shocked by broken roads, dilapidated houses and tons of garbage. Dirt is a Russian national treasure.
Check this video with a comparison of random Russian and Ukrainian villages. It's demonstrable.
You also might’ve seen that “doomer” trend on YouTube and other social pages. Russian post-punk mixed with depressed cityscapes with similar buildings and gloomy weather. I saw a lot of people who found this aesthetic. But those "enjoyers" usually never have been to Russia.
They don’t understand that this is not about choice: such a depressed life is a core option for Russians. They live in shitty panel buildings, work in shitty factories, drink shitty vodka… This is not romantic; this is really scary.
And yeah, vodka. Some filmmakers usually think it’s hilarious to include vodka in the representation of Russian culture. Alcoholism in Russia is massive. And they don’t drink for fun. It’s an existential mechanism of escaping reality. Russian reality.
When the invasion started, we were confused by tons of videos about Russians stealing sanitary. Just imagine: they had to dismantle it and deliver it with their heavy machines to the postal offices. They are so poor that even Ukrainian toilets seem like a luxury to them.
They are full of hate and anger because of humiliating live conditions. And the Russian government supports it. Not so long ago, they decriminalized home violence. Just think about it: why? Why should you ever decriminalize home violence?
Russians had eight years to show what can they build in LDNR. Instead, they closed mines, and factories. They robbed people.
Just one fact about their help for Donbas. Currently, there are no tramways in Luhansk oblast: they either dismantled them to sell or destroyed them.
In Ukraine, we have a “Small Switzerland” meme. It’s a sarcastic name for those fake republics. It’s both funny and sad because things were much better for Luhansk and Donetsk before the Russian invasion in 2014. For sure, there were problems, but it was going to improve.
People lived just ordinary life with its civil challenges. But Russia wouldn’t accept that. They brainwashed people, promised millions of everything, supported local traitors, etc.
Don’t ever fall for Russian lies. They don’t have an idea about a better world. Russkiy mir is always about pain, death and destruction.
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The Moscow attack suspects faced electric shock torture similar to methods used in the “Izolyatsia” camp in Donetsk since 2014.
Yes, this device, which is connected to the genitals, is for torture by electric shock.
More details and the UN report are in this horrifying thread.
“Izolyatsia” is a modern concentration camp, equipped by Russia on the site of a former insulation materials factory in the temporarily Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine in Donetsk.
Prior to Russia's 2014 invasion, this location served as a hub for cultural activities.
In 2014, when the war started, Olena Lazareva, a resuscitation doctor and anesthesiologist, stayed in occupied Donetsk and worked at the Kalinin Hospital. She helped the Ukrainian defenders.
9 things Ukrainians went through after February 24, 2022
It's impossible to describe everything we've been through in these 2 years in one short thread. Nevertheless, I want to describe the most important things.
Read, like, repost, reply, and support Dzyga’s Paw.
1. Devastation
Thousands of buildings, streets, villages, and cities were destroyed by Russians. These are pieces of our souls that have been cut out.
Nobody should ever experience such terrible things. Except for Russians.
2. Pain
Every Ukrainian has lost someone because of the Russian invasion. Of course, the worst thing is to lose loved ones. However, for Ukrainians, there are no other people's losses.
We lose our people every day even if we didn't know them before.
In 2014, Russia invaded the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast.
This was partly possible because of people who believed in Russia's good intentions. They thought that with the arrival of Russia, Donbas would become more prosperous and happier.
What Russian help does look like🧵⬇️
Russia always builds torture chambers in the occupied territories.
Izolyatsia is a former factory that was turned into a prison. According to the report of the OHCHR, detainees were subjected to torture, including electric shock, mock executions, and sexual violence.
Donbas was a powerful industrial region before 2014.
After the invasion, the Russians started dividing everything that had any value. There was no question of technological development: everything was either destroyed or stolen.
How are Russian prisoners of war being held in Ukraine? You'll be shocked.
I recently watched a special project by Dmitry Gordon and the Ukrainian state program for voluntary surrender, “I Want to Live”.
In the thread, I prepared the most notable things about it ⏬
When a prisoner of war enters the camp, they are first examined by a doctor. Then they can wash themselves and get a haircut. There's hot water available all time.
Then they go into a two-week quarantine area to ensure they do not infect other soldiers.
They are given clothes and new leather shoes. Bathing flip-flops are also provided.
During the 14 days of quarantine, a psychologist also works with POWs to rule out suicide attempts due to PTSD.
Russia rarely says about the price that was paid by other Soviet republics on the Eastern Front during World War II. For the last decades, they implied as only Russia was the one who fought.
Here is a list of estimated casualties of USSR republics during WWII.
Ukraine
Military Deaths: 1.4-1.6 million
Civilian Deaths: 3.5-4 million
Total Deaths: 5-6 million
Wounded: 4.2-4.6 million
Captured or Missing: 400,000-600,000
Population in 1941: 41.9 million
Percentage of Total Deaths to Population: 12%-14.3%
Belarus
Military Deaths: 405,000-460,000
Civilian Deaths: 1.0-1.5 million
Total Deaths (Military and Civilian): 1.4-1.7 million
Wounded: 500,000-550,000
Captured or Missing: 300,000-340,000
Population in 1941: 9.2 million
Percentage of Total Deaths to Population: 15.2%-18.5%