“Since Russia’s soldiers first stormed 🇺🇦, women have been gang-raped, men castrated, children sexually abused, & civilians forced to parade naked in the streets, according to the UN.” #ThisIsRussia#RussianCulture
And anyone wants to attribute this to a few bad apples…
Also, this isn’t a “recent development” either. Here are the findings from an independent UN review back in September of 2022 nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna4…
Attempting genocide is central to russia’s imperial identity. Be it the russian empire, USSR, or the Rashist Federation, they just can’t help it. #Holodomor#thisisrussia#RussianCulture
Every time russia reaches rock-bottom of decency, morality, or just basic humanity; it finds a way to break through…
As Ambassador @MelSimmonsFCDO tweeted, what russia does isn’t surprising, it is shocking! It must not go on. Russia will not stop, unless & until it is stopped
The Economist asks and answers the big question 🙋🏻♂️ and by doing so, it squashes the already weak arguments of putin-sponsored pacifists and the western fiscal-conservatives-minted-in-the-kremlin economist.com/leaders/2023/0… via @TheEconomist 1/5
“As the war enters its second year, some ask whether Ukraine is worth all this effort. Isn’t the cost-of-living crisis more urgent? Or climate change? Imagine if the money spent on weapons could finance development instead.” 2/5
“It is right to regret the war, but unwise simply to wish away Mr Putin’s aggression. A Russian victory in Ukraine would frog-march the world down a bleak path where might is right and frontiers are drawn by violence.” 3/5
Russia/putin did this to a 19-year-old Ukrainian. Russia/putin did this to Ruslana, who volunteered to defend her country. Russia/putin did this to countless thousands of innocent victims. Russia/putin will not stop, until they’re stopped. #NeverForget#UkraineWillWin
📷 Photo credit – Костянтин та Влада Ліберови via @bbcukrainian
🔴 Why did #russia launch a full-scale invasion last year?
🔵 Whether you're pro-russian, anti-russian, or Elon Musk [who just can't decide], Feb 24th doesn't make any sense
🔵 So, here is a short thread 🧵to explore the 3 most compelling explanations I've heard 1/5
2️⃣ regime preservation: a plan to conduct a quick & victorious war [repeating "Crimea success"] & thus accrue sufficient legitimacy for the putin-kleptocracy to run/pillage russia for decades to come
Which USSR did you like more?
🔴 1939 when it signed a pact w/ Hitler
🔴 1962 when it tried to place ☢️ weapons in 🇨🇺
🔴 1968 when it sent tanks to Prague
🔴 1979 when it invaded 🇦🇫
🔵 1991 when it fell apart & People of the former colonies/Soviet republics found freedom
1/3
Which #Russia do you like more?
🔴 1994/99 when it slaughtered 300K+ of its own citizens in two Chechen wars
🔴 2008 when it invaded 🇬🇪
🔴 2013 when it bribed Yanukovych $15B so he wouldn’t sign 🇪🇺-🇺🇦 association agreement
2/3
🔴 2014 when it annexed Crimea, invaded Donbas, shot down #MH17
🔴 2016 when it razed Aleppo 🇸🇾 to the ground
🔴 2022 what is launched a full-scale invasion
🔵 20.. when war criminals get punished, 🇷🇺 people atone for what they’ve done, former colonies of Muscovy find freedom 3/3
Brief history of escalation
🔴 2008: russia threatens Georgia, the world’s response is muted. Russia escalates
🔴 2014: russia invades Crimea, gets a slap on the wrist; invades Donbas, downs #MH17
🔴 2015: Nord Stream 2 is green-lighted. Russia exports corruption
1/4
🔴 2021: putin declares his intentions with a genocide manifesto, World buries head in the sand. Russia kills Minsk process, begins energy blackmail
🔴 2022: russia amasses troops at the border, sabre-rattles its nukes, no major response. Russia launches full scale invasion
2/4
Brief history of deescalation
🔵 Free World sands javelins and stingers. Ukraine repels attack on Kyiv. Deescalates the war
🔵 US sends HIMARS, Ukraine liberates Izyum, Kherson.
🔵 Free World sends air defense kit, Ukraine intercepts Ruscist missiles, saves lives
3/4