Bertrand Russel said war doesn’t decide who is right, only who is left. There is no doubt that war benefits no one, and even the ‘winning’ side loses. Similarly, right now, the Russian war effort is meeting resistance not only in Ukraine but also from ordinary Russians and from people from all over the world. A 77-year-old Russian activist survived World War 2 – she is now protesting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
This is a video of 77 year old Yelena Osipova who lived through the siege of Leningrad during World War 2.
Osipova is seen protesting against the war and then being led away by the police in St Petersburg.
Many Russian soldiers have been misled in the situation. Many were told they would be welcome in Ukraine or that they were on routine exercise not an actual invasion into civilian areas. This transcript of the last messages sent by a Russian soldier is simply heartbreaking.
There are those who have been convinced – mostly by clever use of nationalist propaganda by the Russian state – that war is necessary and good for Russia. However, there have been widespread antiwar protests all over Russia.
At great risk to themselves, ordinary Russians are coming out on to the streets for anti-war protests, risking arrest and worse.
People are organising in different ways to protest against the war, which is hurting the Russian people due to the actions of their leader. Sanctions from the world have been effective: long lines outside ATMs, scarcities, price of the ruble crashing, sky rocketing prices, internet services being withheld are all hurting common citizens.
People are calling Vladimir Putin a war criminal and his invasion as attempted genocide because of how cities and civilians are being targeted in the current situation.
The images coming out of Ukraine are heartrending – there has been widespread destruction and many lives lost.
The invasion of Ukraine is based on some very facile excuses made by Putin – and the actions taken by the Russians does not show any kind of good faith; just an attempt to subdue and subjugate a nation by sheer brute force.
This little girl sings Let it Go from Frozen in her own language. People are doing what they can to remain safe and to keep up their spirits at a time of grave danger and uncertainty.
Support for Ukraine ranges from symbolic hoisting of Ukrainian flags to lighting up in Ukrainian colours to this:
People are making Airbnb bookings in Ukraine as a way to financially support people in the hard hit areas.
Polish mothers have left strollers on the train platform to help refugee Ukrainian mothers fleeing their country with their children.
Nothing ever turns out well for the people involved in war – but decision-makers like Putin either don’t care or refuse to see the truth of the matter.
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