If you consume not only Russian state media, then you probably know, that Russia started a full military invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainians have been and are showing tremendous resistance, but the situation against a vastly bigger Russian army is still grim.
Ukrainians have three huge problems in my view:
- they were attacked by an insecure autocratic state (Putin’s Russia)
- they are outnumbered in military power
- because of the war a humanitarian crisis is unfolding.
By definition every news and information is impacted by the “fog of war”, and misinformation and propaganda is a vital part of this conflict.
Because of this general confusion I try to provide short summaries in the beginning of the chapters, using the most reliable sources and narratives I was able to find.
Supporting the Ukrainian armed forces
The regular Ukrainian army is highly outnumbered on all fronts, but they show superiority in moral and logistics. A fast full scale invasion of the country in 3–4 days was not successful, but the initially effective defensive strategy is by no means guarantee in a long-war scenario.
A brief list of References:
Ukrainian vs Russian military
Logistics of Russia’s Invasion
How is the war in Ukraine going for Russia? | DW News
Supporting armed forces, which can lead to the death of human beings can be a hard choice to make. However, in my view there are considerable arguments for “lethal aid” in this situation. It seams that the conflict cannot be stopped only by diplomacy or even economic sanctions. Ukrainian people demonstrate incredible determination, and there is a possibility, that the slow advance of Russian army together with diplomatic and economic isolation of Putin’s Russia can cause inner tensions in the invading country and stop the violence.
However, it is also possible that more armed resistance will only make the Russian military machine more brutal, and will cause more human suffering.
I think this is not “Adding Fuel To The Fire”, because the conflict is not escalated by the international community by arming both sides in a proxy war, resulting an arms race. The Kremlin can anytime decide and declare, that the “special military operation” has been successful and stop the aggression. (Since Ukraine would not and could not invade Russian territory.)
Moreover, this argument is against any justified self defence, which cannot be omitted, when other players try to impose their will by military force.
Come Back Alive (see on Wikipedia)
Ukraine’s Armed Forces fund at the National Bank of Ukraine
Army SOS
There are two relevant cryptocurrency (BTC) wallets:
Come Back Alive BTC
Ukrainian Government BTC
An effective Belarusian hacker group:
Belarusian Cyber-Partisans (read some background here)
Belarusian Cyber-Partisans BTC
More:
Hybrid Warfare Analytical Group
Euromaidan Press
Humanitarian aid
In Ukraine a massive humanitarian crisis is unfolding. The fighting impacts civilians, and civilian infrastructure.
A brief list of references:
IFRC Emergency Appeal
ICRC on the Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine
Ukraine Flash Appeal March — May 2022
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) response
Probably human suffering shows most directly the horrors and realities of this war. The crisis is unfolding both inside Ukraine, and in the neighboring countries including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and further countries.
The situation is so diverse, that a variety of offerings can help (warm clothing, food, sanitary equipment, transportation, shelter, information, etc.), but maybe the most useful help from a distance is financial aid sent to a reliable humanitarian organization. International organizations can coordinate their action in multiple countries, and some are able to reach conflict zones, where the aid is most needed.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
(see their work on Facebook and Twitter, and their background on Wikipedia)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
(see their work on Facebook and Twitter, and their background on Wikipedia)
Malteser International
(see their work on Facebook and Twitter, and their background on Wikipedia)
There are many more national and international humanitarian organizations, which can provide help in some specific areas. Be careful with scams — which sadly appeared at this time as well – by checking the organizations background and reliability.
More lists:
National Public Radio’s (USA) list
TimeOut (UK) list
Ukrainian paramedic organization:
Hospitallers
Information and help for refugees coming to Hungary can be found here, and a relevant Hungarian Facebook group for those, who are willing to provide help can be found here.
People of Russia
Putin has real supporters among the Russian people, but the militant attitude he shows is mostly unpopular. Tens of thousands of Russians have been arrested in the past week(s) on anti-war protests. In Russia police detention for protest can lead to 12–20 years imprisonment, which can put the determination of those who did it anyway into context.
Because of the unexpected length of the invasion, economic sanctions, cultural proximity and close family links to the Ukrainian people, a regime change in Moscow might be possible.
The present Boyars (Oligarchs), army officials and Russian people can all possibly initiate a protest, which can shake the ruling Tsar.
A brief list of references:
Putin’s public approval is soaring during the Russia-Ukraine crisis, but it’s unlikely to last
Putin’s approval has stayed strong over the years — war in Ukraine could change that
A Reckless Gamble by Lawrence Freedman
Regime change is now as likely in Moscow as it is in Kyiv.
Publicly criticising the regime is dangerous in today’s Russia, and there are only a few organizations who are willing and are able to provide legal and financial help for protesters:
Овд Инфо (OVD-Info)
(see their work on Facebook and Twitter, and their background on Wikipedia)
The relevant cryptocurrency (BTC) wallet:
OVD-Info BTC
+1 Information
The Russo-Ukrainian War and the present Russian invasion of Ukraine has generated an unprecedented amount of disinformation. Not only narratives, but factual data and quantitative figures are constantly distorted.
A brief list of references:
Russian information war against Ukraine
EUvsDisinfo
Putin address fact-checked by the BBC
“The first casualty, when war comes, is truth.” I think this observation is correct, regardless of whom we attribute it to. In this conflict the Russian narrative and reporting contain considerably more easy to spot lies and distortions than the invaded part, but this doesn’t mean that every story, footage, and data can be regarded as reliable from the Ukrainian side.
It is complicated to stay critical and in the same time open minded toward both (or all) narratives, but don’t let uncertainty relativize actions which need to be firmly addressed.
And as a mortal human being I need to acknowledge that I myself can spread misinformation (most easily as a fake footage in some linked video or media), and the most I can say, is that I tried my best to collect here relevant, useful and trustworthy information.
I was not including TASS, Russian TV or Sputnik to links and references not because their narrative is irrelevant, but primarily because in my best judgement they contain so much noise and factual distortion, that it takes more effort to untangle these sources then finding another one summarizing the narrative. My second excuse not to engage with the Kremlin narrative, is that I am planning to write a whole separate post on the different perspectives (possibly including China, India, and/or others I find interesting and can summarize meaningfully).
To see the Ukrainian narrative one can support a few local media and reporting agencies:
Keep Ukraine’s media going
Kyiv Independent (which can be supported on Patreon as well)
The bottom line
If you have solidarity for Ukrainian people, or you want to support Ukraine’s self defense against a military invasion, then there are many ways how even individuals can help. If you are far away, you can still give financial aid, and if you live closer you can donate clothes, food, shelter or provide other help.
In my view Ukraine is fighting to demonstrate that even a former USSR country can have de facto sovereignty and agency on its own fate. I feel a deep admiration and I am thankful for their bravery, but at the same time I feel sorrow and my heart breaks because of their suffering.
The rejection of this kind of autonomy motivated me the most to give aid, and to write about the issue. Demonstrating that agency exists even in Eastern-Europe.
