A few of thoughts on constant jokes about drunkenness in Russia. Russian society has the highest rates of alcoholism globally. It’s a tragedy, not a joke. My Russian-Armenian father drank heavily when I was a child, which contributed to trauma I’m still dealing with at 40yo 1/5 People should remember too, that alcoholism itself is a disease and often a response to trauma. It leads to violence against women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable people. Alcohol was deeply prevalent in Soviet society as one unhealthy coping mechanism 2/5

Russia, today, celebrates the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, as if it was Russia’s victory alone. This is my grandmother - Paulina Matushkina - who was born in Ukraine and died in Ukraine. She fought in the Red Army and was in the battle for Berlin 1/8 🧵 She received a medal for “participating in the historic storming and taking of Berlin”. That’s what the certificate below says. It blows my mind every time I read those words and see this photo that she wrote “1945, Berlin” on the back of. She’s 3rd from the right 2/8

Further to the below message showing abusive behaviour by UkraineDAO head Alona Shevchenko, I’d like to share a list of 🇺🇦 supporters & media she and her charity– that claims to educate on media literacy — has deemed to be foreign agents and/or Kremlin collaborators 🧵1/7

https://twitter.com/SasshaPetrova/status/1655396574959378432

First up is Michael McFaul @McFaul - one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine who is working with 🇺🇦government on a stronger sanctions regime on Russia. The DAO has designated him a “Kremlin parrot” (& independent Russian media in exile, Meduza, are “collaborators”) 2/7

Russia began presidency of UN Security Council yesterday–established “for the maintenance of international peace and security”–as it continues its war on Ukraine. I was looking at how it got the seat and thought I'd share the timeline of events for those interested 🧵1/14 2/14 The Security Council was set up in 1945. The WW2 allies (US, UK, Soviet Union, France) and China got the 5 permanent seats and the power of veto. The composition was based on realist theory so strongest military powers got most privileged positions diplomacy.edu/resource/the-h…

🧵I've been following the gut-wrenching issue of Ukrainian children being forcefully transferred to Russia since last year. In the wake of ICC issuing warrant for Putin's involvement, I thought I'd share some Ukraine-related and historical facts about children's transfers 1/11 In Feb ’23, @YaleSPH researchers said they identified about 40 camps where Ukrainian children as young as four months old were held with the apparent aim of integrating them into Russia’s “vision of national culture, history, and society”. 2/11
aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/15…