Greetings
There’s so much to take in, so much to feel, and so much to say about the situation in Ukraine. I’ve been riveted by it, as will be obvious from today’s GNR.
I knew I wanted to write an introduction that would draw lessons from Ukraine for progressive activists in the U.S., but before I even started writing, I found that Aldous Pennyfarthing had beat me to it. This quote from his Saturday diary is simply unimprovable:
Are we brave enough? Are we worthy enough? Is our 246-year-old democracy as important to us as Ukraine’s fledgling democracy is to them? It better be, because if the U.S. falls, autocrats will be only too happy to fill that power vacuum.
So we continue to fight—even when the fight looks lost.
No surrender. Not now. Not ever.
That fighting spirit—that yearning for a free society that respects the inalienable rights of every one of its citizens—lives in all of us. But it’s now shining brightest in the unlikeliest of places—a former Soviet republic led by an ex-comedian.
If we ever feel defeated in our own struggle to keep our country from flying off the rails, we need look no further than the heroes of Kyiv.
Still think our own situation is hopeless? Fuck that. It’s only hopeless if we lose hope. And that, good patriots, is something we can never—and will never—do.
All I can add to this is “Amen.”
Of course another way the heroism of the Ukrainians inspires us to act is to help them in their fight however we can. As citizens of the wealthiest nation on earth, those of us who can afford to donate to the NGOs helping in Ukraine have a moral responsibility to do so. I’ve provided a pretty exhaustive list of donation options below.
This GNR was challenging to write and is definitely my longest ever. So settle in with a mug of your favorite morning beverage and let’s get inspired.
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The heroic Ukrainians
A young man being interviewed in the first video below explains his willingness to take up arms by saying “Who else but us?” These words apply to every citizen of every nation who strives for freedom, equality, and justice. We can’t sit back and say, “Oh, someone else will take care of this.” It’s on each one of us to act.
And now the wheels are coming off the Russian juggernaut. See these recent diaries by kos, Mark Sumner, and Hunter: www.dailykos.com/…, www.dailykos.com/…, www.dailykos.com/…, and the collection of DKos diaries on Ukraine that Mokurai put together in a comment yesterday.
And this:
Ukrainian forces destroy convoy of 56 Chechen tanks, kill general near Kyiv.
From The Times of Israel:
Ukrainian military forces were successful in destroying a Chechen special forces column of 56 tanks near the capital of Kyiv on Saturday, Ukrainian news agency The Kyiv Independent reported.
According to the report, which the outlet said was confirmed by the Ukrainian President’s Office, the attack killed top Chechen general Magomed Tushayev, head of the 141 motorized regiment of the Chechnya National Guard.
The report was not independently verified.
The Chechen special forces, referred to as “Kadyrovites” … were reportedly deployed by Russia to “capture and kill” Ukrainian leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the Daily Mail.
And now this:
5,000 Russian Soldiers Riot, Refuse to Go to Ukraine
From Daily Kos, by Irenaeus:
OBOZREVATEL is reporting that 5,000 contract servicemen — not conscripts, professional soldiers — rioted in the Belgorod region of Russia, which is right across the border from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
About 5,000 contract soldiers, who were hastily collected to be sent to Ukraine, refused to go to fight for Putin on the territory of our state.
Formally, the rebellious contractors argue their refusal to participate in hostilities in Ukraine by the fact that this is not provided for in their contracts.
I don’t believe this has been reported or confirmed anywhere else but if true this is really bad news for Vlad. More than 3500 Russian troops have been killed in less than 3 days of action in Ukraine and the Russian rank and file and even officers have no idea what they are doing in Ukraine.
And this:
The conscripted Russian troops are screwed. They’re mostly young and inexperienced and are now rapidly running out of food and fuel. Here’s a powerful message from a couple of Ukrainian soldiers to the Russian soldiers:
Ukraine establishes hotline for concerned Russian families
From The Navy Times:
Over the weekend, the Ukrainian government established a hotline to connect Russian families to prisoners of war and casualties incurred during the ongoing invasion launched by President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 23.
The hotline, reportedly called “Ishchi Svoikh” (Look For Your Own), according to Radio Free Europe, hopes to cut through Russian-controlled state media and show Russian citizens, including friends and family members of troops on the ground, how severe the situation in Ukraine is. ✂️
In a video translated by Radio Free Europe, Vadym Denisenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, promised to treat Russian POWs with human dignity, and to reunite families with the bodies of those lost in the conflict.
* * * * *
“Ukraine is not yet lost, neither its glory nor freedom … Souls and bodies we’ll lay down for our freedom.”
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The helpers
We all know the famous quote from Mr. Rogers (actually, from his mom) about looking for the helpers when we’re afraid or despairing. We don’t have to look far to find the helpers in the Ukraine crisis. Individuals, organizations, and nations all over the world are rushing to pitch in. It’s been hard to keep up with the news!
U.S., European allies freeze ‘Putin’s war chest’ as Russia careens toward economic crisis
From The Washington Post:
“In one fell swoop, the U.S. and Europe have rendered Putin’s war chest unusable. … That the U.S. and Europe have done this in unified fashion sends a crystal-clear message that Russia will face dramatic costs so long as Putin’s war of aggression continues,” said Edward Fishman, former Russia and Europe sanctions lead at the State Department. “This action represents a sea change in U.S. and European strategy. Just 72 hours ago, a step like this was unthinkable.”
EU to purchase weapons for Ukraine
From Deutsche Welle:
For the first time in its history, the European Union will purchase weapons for a country under attack, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
She also said EU airspace would be closed to Russia-owned, registered or controlled aircraft, explicitly mentioning that the ban would apply to "the private jets of oligarchs."
Additionally, von der Leyen announced the 27-member bloc would take steps to stop "the Kremlin's media machine in the EU" by banning state-owned Russia Today, Sputnik and their subsidiaries. "We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe," she said. ✂️
In addition to the measures against Russia, von der Leyen added that the EU agreed to sanction Russia's ally Belarus, which she called "the other aggressor in this war."
In a message to the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Ukraine, von der Leyen said they would be welcomed with "open arms.”
U.S.
Blinken authorizes $350 million more in US military assistance to Ukraine
From CNN:
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday he has authorized $350 million in new US military assistance to Ukraine.
“Today, as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russia’s brutal and unprovoked assault, I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the President, an unprecedented third Presidential Drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate support to Ukraine’s defense,” Blinken said in a written statement.
“This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing. It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation,” he added.
As CNN has reported, President Joe Biden instructed Blinken to release up to $350 million in immediate support to Ukraine's defense, according to a memo released by the White House Friday.
This is the third drawdown of money. Previous drawdowns have been for $60 million and $250 million, putting the total over the last year at more than a billion dollars, according to an administration official.
White House asks Congress for $6.4 billion to aid Ukraine
From Axios:
The Biden administration asked Congress to provide $6.4 billion in funding to assist Ukraine as it fights off Russia's advances, an administration official confirmed to Axios on Friday.
Driving the news: $2.9 billion would go toward security assistance, humanitarian aid, economic stabilization needs, and regional efforts to combat Russian cyberattacks, among other things. The administration is also seeking $3.5 billion for the Pentagon's response to the crisis.
- Part of the $2.9 billion would also be allocated to aid Ukraine's neighboring countries.
- The request is likely to receive bipartisan support. "We’re looking at including a Ukraine assistance package and COVID relief in the omnibus," a congressional leadership aide told Axios on Friday.
Canada
Canada to ban Russian oil imports, send anti-tank weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, says Trudeau
From the CBC:
Canada is banning Russian oil imports and will send a third shipment of lethal weapons to Ukraine as its military continues to fight off better-armed Russian forces, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday.
"Yesterday, we announced that we would be sending new shipments of military supplies, including body armour, helmets, gas masks and night vision goggles," Trudeau said. "Today we are announcing that we will be supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons systems and upgraded ammunition."
Trudeau said the Canadian Armed Forces will provided airlift support to transport supplies and aid and to participate in other NATO efforts in support of Ukraine.
Germany
Germany to send Ukraine weapons in historic shift on military aid
From Politico:
Germany on Saturday reversed a historic policy of never sending weapons to conflict zones, saying the Russian invasion of Ukraine was an epochal moment that imperiled the entire post-World War II order across Europe. ✂️
On Saturday, Berlin finally bowed to...pressure [from EU and NATO allies], and to the reality that Russia is encircling Ukrainian cities and threatening to topple the government in Kyiv.
From its own stockpile, the German government will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger anti-aircraft defense systems to Ukraine.
Germany offers Poland help with refugees from Ukraine
This is an earlier story, before the exodus of refugees began.
From U.S. News & World Report:
Germany will offer support to Poland and other countries in eastern Europe facing an influx of refugees after Russia invaded Ukraine, and is prepared for all scenarios, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Thursday. ✂️
Germany had been in touch with the Polish government and the European Commission, Faeser told journalists. ✂️
Germany was talking to the European Council on whether to trigger a law that would offer Ukrainians an unbureaucratic way to receive temporary protection in the European Union, she said.
Switzerland
Switzerland says it will freeze Russian assets, setting aside a tradition of neutrality.
This is a BFD and a sign of how seriously Europe is taking this situation.
From the NY Times:
Switzerland, a favorite destination for Russian oligarchs and their money, announced on Monday that it would freeze Russian financial assets in the country, setting aside a deeply rooted tradition of neutrality to join the European Union and a growing number of nations seeking to penalize Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
After a meeting with the Swiss Federal Council, Switzerland’s president, Ignazio Cassis, said that the country would immediately freeze the assets of Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail V. Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov, as well as all 367 individuals sanctioned last week by the European Union.
Switzerland said it was departing from its usual policy of neutrality because of “the unprecedented military attack by Russia on a sovereign European state,” but expressed a willingness to help mediate in the conflict. It also joined European neighbors in closing its airspace to Russian aircraft, except for humanitarian or diplomatic purposes. But said it would evaluate whether to join in subsequent E.U. sanctions on a case-by-case basis.
Britain
Britain Set To Provide Ukraine With Additional Weaponry, Loan Guarantees
From Radio Free Europe
Britain says it is ready to provide Ukraine with additional military support, including lethal defensive weapons, and major loan guarantees to help Kyiv “weather the storm of Russian aggression.”
"In light of the increasingly threatening behavior from Russia and in line with our previous support, the U.K. will shortly be providing a further package of military support to Ukraine,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament on February 23.
“This will include lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and nonlethal aid," he added.
France
France to offer €300M worth of aid, military equipment to Ukraine
From Anadolu Agency [Turkey]:
French President Emmanuel Macron has moved to extend €300 million ($337 million) of aid and military equipment to Ukraine, according to French daily Le Monde.
According to the report, which came on the second day of Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, France will also freeze Russian officials' assets within the country.
President Emmanuel Macron on Friday announced at the country’s national assembly the delivery of additional €300 million in aid, along with military equipment, to Ukraine and pledged to undertake steps in the NATO framework "to protect the soil of our Baltic and Romanian allies."
In a message sent to lawmakers explaining France’s response to the Ukrainian invasion, Macron said "nothing will be neglected in matters of aid" to Kyiv.
Monaco
Monaco Clamps Down on Russian Assets After Ukraine Invasion
I hope they confiscate some of those superyachts!!
From U.S. News & World Report:
Monaco, a tax haven often favoured by the super-wealthy, will proceed with freezing assets and imposing sanctions on certain Russians following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the Monaco Royal Palace said on Monday. ✂️
"The Principality has adopted and implemented, without delay, procedures for freezing funds and economic sanctions identical to those taken by most European States," the palace said in a statement.
Foreigners, including rich Russians, have for years been attracted to Monaco, a tiny Mediterranean principality, by its warm climate and generous tax rules. During the summer months, Monaco's marina and bay are filled with the superyachts of international billionaires, celebrities and oligarchs.
Australia
Australia to send weapons to Ukraine, stepping up military aid
From The Sydney Morning Herald:
Australia will fund the supply of weapons to the government of Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces invading the country, stepping up its support days after saying it would only provide “non-lethal” military equipment.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to cabinet colleagues on Sunday morning to start sending the military supplies to Ukraine through allies such as the United States and NATO partners in Europe.
Speaking after joining Ukrainian-Australians at a church service in Sydney, the Prime Minister also signalled more humanitarian aid after the government spoke to the Ukrainian community about taking refugees who are fleeing the war.
Turkey
Turkey, a Sometimes Wavering NATO Ally, Backs Ukraine
From The New York Times:
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey agreed on Thursday to expand supplies of one of the Ukrainian Army’s most sophisticated weapons, a long-range, Turkish-made armed drone whose use in combat for the first time in Ukraine last fall infuriated Russian officials.
Mr. Erdogan’s decision to provide weapons and diplomatically back Ukraine was a public rebuke to Moscow and another complicating factor in the mix of cooperation and conflict between Turkey and Russia, historical rivals for supremacy in the region around the Black Sea.
...The Ukrainians, while welcoming diplomatic support, have said that what they primarily need are more weapons to deter any attack.
Romania
Solidarity with Ukraine: NGOs, companies and individuals unite to offer help to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Romania
From Romania Insider:
Fight for Freedom provides accommodation and food at its centres in Veresti and Burdujeni in Suceava county. They're sharing updates and information on their Facebook page - here.
Local businessman Stefan Mandachi offers accommodation at his hotel in Suceava (limited spaces), as well as free meals at the Spartan restaurant in the city centre (Ukrainians need to show an ID card). Plus, those who want to make donations can do so at the same restaurant, and the businessman is also working on setting up special spaces for pets. He's updating the information on Facebook - here.
Andra Hotel in Tecuci can also host refugees, according to a Facebook message of manager Mac Florea.
Complexul Turistic Costești also joined the list of local businesses supporting Ukrainians with accommodation and food. No more rooms were available on Friday morning, but they said they would publish updates regularly. More details here.
[And the list goes on...]
Poland
In addition to accepting a flood of Ukrainian refugees (see the tweets from World Central Kitchen in the “How you can help” section), the Poles are also encouraging them to bring their pets. ❤️
🎩 to Nanny Ogg in last Thursday’s Evening Shade:
Norway
Norway to Send Weapons to Ukraine, in Change of Policy
From U.S. News & World Report:
Norway will donate up to 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons, the government said in a statement.
"Norway has strict policies regarding exports of military equipment, but Ukraine now faces extraordinary circumstances," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said.
On Sunday, Norway announced it would pull its sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, out of Russia and promised to send helmets, bullet-proof vests and other equipment to Ukraine.
Azerbaijan
From Mark Sumner (DKos diary Saturday):
Apparently there is a chain of gas stations in Ukraine that is owned by the Azerbaijan government. After a conversation between Zeleneskyy and the president of Azerbaijan, that chain is now providing free gas to ambulances and emergency vehicles in Ukraine.
India
India To Send Humanitarian Aid, Medicines To Ukraine
From NDTV:
Amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India will provide humanitarian assistance including medicines to Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press briefing on Monday.
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in the press briefing on Monday said, "India will provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine including medicines. However, no more details are yet available.”
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How you can help
There are so many donation options that seeing them grouped together like this is overwhelming. I advise you to skim this information first, and then to go back to decide where you’d most like to send your donations.
Many of the sites chose the same NGOs to highlight, so I’ve removed the duplicates.
First, a message from the mayor of Kyiv (🎩 to Chaplain M):
ENG/UKR
This is the message to all democratic cities of the world and to the entire international community.
Every day the Ukraine’s Armed Forces fight against the aggressor’s army is a day of the fight for the world’s democracy.
What can you do:
Massive peaceful demonstrations in your cities and towns to show your solidarity with Ukraine.
Don’t buy the goods made in Russia or sponsored by the aggressor.
Every dollar from this purchase or service sponsors the army which attacks Ukraine now. Their rockets that are fired into the kindergartens, schools, and hospitals.
Their bullets that kill our citizens.
It is essential now to isolate Russia from all international events. They must be held accountable for the hell they’ve been creating for every Ukrainian family.
A complete isolation. A complete financial, visa, diplomatic, cultural, sports isolation. This is your weapon. We are currently fighting with our own arms. And we do it with glory.
Take a good example! Stand with Ukraine! 🇺🇦❤️
World Central Kitchen
February 25th:
February 27th:
United Help Ukraine
MoveOn sent an email on Saturday soliciting donations to this NGO, which they describe as “an organization that distributes donations, food, and medical supplies to those injured in the war, their families, and those in need of temporary aid as they flee for safety. … United Help Ukraine is run entirely by volunteers who are selflessly dedicating their time and labor to those experiencing the worst effects of Putin's invasion.” Unfortunately, the donation link in the email was faulty. Here’s a link that will work: secure.actblue.com/…
More NGOs within Ukraine
The National Bank of Ukraine opened a special account to raise funds for Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Transfers in both foreign currency (U.S. dollars, euros, UK pounds) and hryvnias possible: https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi
“Come back alive” https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/ (works directly with the command and personnel of military units, purchasing infrared thermal imaging cameras, night vision goggles, hemostatics etc)
“Army SOS” https://armysos.com.ua/pomoch-armii (manages purchases of necessary ammunition, shields, intercommunication and reconnaissance facilities, etc. and delivers all goods directly)
“Hospitallers” https://www.facebook.com/hospitallers/posts/2953630548255167 (works directly on the frontline)
“Phoenix Wings” http://wings-phoenix.org.ua/en/about-fund/ ( the appropriate equipment & uniform, personal non-lethal protection (vests, helmets), required treatment of the wounded soldiers, and repair of the buildings used by the army)
“Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement” https://www.uwvm.org.ua/?page_id=3437&lang=en (a consolidation of female veterans, amongst other things organizes preparation for actions in case of emergencies and defense situations.
“Vostok SOS” https://vostok-sos.org/en/make-a-donation/ (raising funds for various needs of the army)
“Voices of Children” https://voices.org.ua/en/ (help for traumatized children)
5 verified charities working to help Ukrainians amid invasion
From Yahoo:
Global Giving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund
According to the organization's official website, your donation will help "affected communities in Ukraine, with a focus on the most vulnerable, including children, who need access to food, medical services, and psychosocial support."
Not only that, but the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund will "support humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled."
International Rescue Committee
"The IRC is meeting with partners and local civil society organizations in Poland and Ukraine to assess capacity for responding to an increase of refugees and people in need," said the organization on its official website. "We will work to respond where we are needed the most and with the services that are needed urgently. Whatever the needs are, we are preparing to meet them.”
Save the Children
According to Save the Children, there are 7.5 million kids who are in danger of physical harm, emotional distress and displacement due to the invasion in Ukraine. Even before the conflict escalated this week, there were already 400,000 children there who needed humanitarian aid.
...Save the Children has made their own Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund to help Ukrainian families now. On their official website, the organization said that it will use donations to help families meet their basic needs such as food, medicine and shelter...[and] will also help Ukrainian children get access to education and psychosocial support.
Razom for Ukraine
Razom for Ukraine has been helping Ukrainians since the organization was first established in 2014. It aims to help Ukraine pursue a democratic society that has civil rights for all. ✂️
...Razom "means 'together' in Ukrainian and serves as a constant reminder of the community that it takes to create, build and do, to stay the path towards a more prosperous and democratic Ukraine."
The International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is helping the Ukrainian Red Cross assist people who were affected by the conflict there. ✂️
"The ICRC’s priority is to assist those in need...We will also continue our bilateral and confidential dialogue with the parties to the conflict to protect those affected by the fighting."
How to help Ukrainians: These organizations are looking for donations
From Fortune:
Sunflower of Peace
...Sunflower of Peace is currently providing backpacks to Ukrainian soldiers, citizens, and volunteers. According to its fundraising information, “Each backpack is designed for groups of 5 to 10 people and includes a variety of first aid supplies: bandages, anti hemorrhagic medicine like Quikclot and Celox, medical instruments, and a means for survival in extreme conditions.” Donate through the fundraising page on Facebook.
CARE
International humanitarian organization CARE has set up an emergency Ukrainian Crisis Fund with the goal of providing immediate support for 4 million people. Donations will go toward providing Ukrainians with water, food, supplies, hygiene kits, immediate support and aid, and cash. CARE notes that its prioritizing supporting women, girls, families, and elderly.CARE makes it easy to donate via its website using PayPal or a credit card.
International Medical Corps
This nonprofit is focused on providing health-care services, psychosocial support, and care to citizens of countries dealing with disaster, disease, and conflict. It's currently accepting monetary gifts that will go toward providing Ukrainians with better access to medical and mental health resources. You can make a donation via the website using a credit/debit card, bank transfer, or PayPal.
Project Hope
Project Hope is an international organization that coordinates with health-care workers to provide on-the-ground medical support to countries in crisis. ...It's currently sending medical supplies to Ukrainians. You can make donations via its website using a credit/debit card, bank transfer, or PayPal.
Kyiv Independent
This English-language media outlet was launched three months ago and created on the principles of free-press and editorial independence. Donations can be made via its GoFundMe and Patreon accounts, which will be used to keep the news source running.
How can I help Ukraine? Try donating to…
From TimeOut:
Revived Soldiers Ukraine, which funds medication and medical supplies for army hospitals on the front line. Donate here.
Nova Ukraine, a Ukraine-based non-profit that provides civilians with everything from baby food and hygiene products to clothes and household supplies. Donate here.
This appeal arrived yesterday in an email from Amnesty International. The crisis investigators will document human rights abuses.
Amnesty International is mobilizing all of our resources to protect human rights and lives in Ukraine, and hold leaders accountable. We need a groundswell of support — each one of us must do our part. We're preparing to send in crisis investigators — and that takes resources. Will you make an emergency donation right now to help protect Ukrainians at risk?
And finally:
Make a Difference Online by Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation
From GoodGoodGood:
One of the best things you can do right now to support the people of Ukraine is to do your part to stop misinformation from spreading. ✂️
While disinformation is certainly at play in Russia’s attack, reliable news outlets will disprove that relatively quickly — because it is in direct opposition to factual information.
Misinformation is more challenging, because it often looks and sounds like it could very well be true — and in some cases, contains part-truths — but when you look a little closer, critical details are incorrect that could have negative consequences. When it comes to a war, those consequences get increasingly more severe.
Lastly, don’t spread hopelessness, panic, or fear. A significant secondary goal of Russia is to create this kind of response. The best thing you can do to combat this is to share hard facts, point people to opportunities to make a difference..., and take positive action to support the people of Ukraine.
...Go slow. Vet your sources.
And along those same lines:
Twitter will start labeling posts linking to Russian state media
From The Washington Post:
Twitter announced Monday it would begin adding labels to tweets containing content from Russian state media websites, as major tech companies come under increased pressure to ban content from outlets connected with the Kremlin.
The labels, which include an orange exclamation point, will be automatically applied to any tweet that includes a link from designated Russian state-affiliated media websites. The company will also stop recommending tweets with these links and block them from appearing in “Top Search.”
* * * * *
Other Ukraine news
The dire predictions about a Russian cyber onslaught haven’t come true in Ukraine. At least not yet.
From The Washington Post:
For more than a decade, military commanders and outside experts have laid out blueprints for how cyberwar would unfold: military and civilian networks would be knocked offline, cutting-edge software would sabotage power plants, and whole populations would be unable to get money, gas or refrigerated food.
But while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has spawned all manner of cyberattacks and defenses, few are playing out the way the experts thought they would.
As of Monday, five days after tanks moved into Ukraine, the Internet and other key Ukrainian infrastructure were still functioning, the outgunned Ukrainian military was still coordinating effectively and Russia’s vaunted disinformation capabilities were failing to persuade Ukrainians that resistance is futile.
Ukrainian navy confirms Snake Island soldiers alive, taken by Russia
From The Jerusalem Post:
The Ukrainian navy announced on Monday that it was aware that the border guards on Snake Island who were at first thought to have died in a Russian assault were in fact alive and being held prisoner by the Russians. ✂️
The navy added that a civilian ship had gone to the island to help the victims after the attack, but it was captured by the Russians. The navy demanded the release of all Ukrainian citizens.
Zelensky signs EU membership application
From The Hill:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed a membership application formally requesting that Ukraine join the European Union (EU) amid a Russian invasion of his country. ✂️
Zelensky had asked earlier Monday that Ukraine be added to the bloc as his country fights off an invasion by Russia.
“Our goal is to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing,” Zelensky said during a video address, according to The New York Times. “I’m sure it’s fair. I’m sure it’s possible.”
Oil giant Shell says it intends to ‘exit’ its ventures with Russia’s Gazprom
From The Washington Post:
Oil giant Shell said Monday that it intends to dump its joint ventures with Russian gas giant Gazprom over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It’s the third major oil company to announce that it planned to exit Russia over the war in Ukraine. On Sunday, Britain’s BP and Norway’s Equinor both announced they were ending investments in Russia’s oil industry.
Shell put the long-term value of its stakes in these ventures at $3 billion.
Things are not working out as Putin expected
🎩 to irenaeus for the tweets from European Parliament member Riho Terras, included in a DKos diary which topped the Trending List on Saturday. Here’s a readable version of the thread:
THREAD 1/7 Intel from a Ukrainian officer about a meeting in Putin’s lair in Urals. Oligarchs convened there so no one would flee. Putin is furious, he thought that the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days.
2/7 Russians didn’t have a tactical plan. The war costs about $20 bln/day. There are rockets for 3-4 days at most, they use them sparingly. They lack weapons, the Tula and 2 Rotenberg plants can’t physically fulfil the orders for weapons. Rifles and ammo are the most they can do.
3/7 The next Russian weapons can be produced in 3-4 months – if even that. They have no raw materials. What was previously supplied mainly from Slovenia, Finland and Germany is now cut off.
4/7 If Ukraine manages to hold the Russians off for 10 days, then the Russians will have to enter negotiations. Because they have no money, weapons, or resources. Nevertheless, they are indifferent about the sanctions.
5/7 Alpha Spec Ops have been near Kyiv since the 18th February. The goal was to take Kyiv and instal a puppet regime. They are preparing provocations against innocent civilians – women and children – to sow panic. This is their trump card.
6/7 Russia’s whole plan relies on panic – that the civilians and armed forces surrender and Zelensky flees. They expect Kharkiv to surrender first so the other cities would follow suit to avoid bloodshed. The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered.
7/7 The Ukrainians must avoid panic! The missile strikes are for intimidation, the Russians fire them at random to “accidentally” hit residential buildings to make the attack look larger than it really is. Ukraine must stay strong and we must provide assistance!
#StandWithUkraine
8/7 Spread this information so the world would realise how important it is to assist Ukraine right now and without hesitation! It is difficult for Russia, but it is difficult for Ukraine as well if the West does not provide meaningul support!
@EPPGroup@MFAestonia @MoD_Estonia
Re: Putin
I’ve been seeing a lot of articles and comments that describe Putin as brilliant and as having reached his position in Russia by working his way up through success after success — e.g., by being an outstanding KGB agent and director. Masha Gessen wrote a stunning and utterly convincing profile of Putin for Vanity Fair in 2008, which the magazine just republished from its archives, that entirely contradicts this opinion of Putin. In Gessen’s view, Putin is simply a thug. Of course, this doesn’t mean that he isn’t extremely dangerous, only that we needn’t spend time looking for any hidden agendas he might have as a master strategist. He’s just a bully. And fortunately President Biden has had a lifetime of learning how to deal with bullies.
This article might be behind a paywall, so I’ll provide some relevant quotes. If you’re able to access the whole piece, please read it in full. It’s absolutely riveting.
The important background here is that Putin was seen as a blank slate and was therefore chosen by Yeltsin’s inner circle to be elevated to the presidency of Russia in order to continue Yeltsin’s policies and prevent Yeltsin’s family and supporters from being prosecuted by the next administration. Things didn’t work out as they expected.
Dead Soul
From Vanity Fair, 2008:
Say you have a country and no one to run it. Say you decide to invent a president. Say you hold auditions, and then you pick someone. You endow him with all the characteristics that you, the people of your country, and many people elsewhere, want to see in a president. You present him, fully formed, to the world. You pat yourself on the back— and that is all you have time to do before everything starts to go wrong.
Putin in 2008.
That is what happened to the people who invented—or thought they had invented— Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. They had a brilliant plan. That plan has been shattered by the man himself and, more important, by the secret-police apparatus that actually formed this man and continues to sustain him. ✂️
To sum up, the man's qualifications were: he did not take a bribe [on one occasion], and he had been unafraid to go to a party for an acquaintance who had fallen into disfavor. Putin had no articulated political vision and no identifiable political ambition. Nor had he had any apparent career successes. As a K.G.B. agent he had accomplished nothing; as deputy mayor he had run his boss's failed campaign for re-election and had then narrowly avoided a corruption probe; and, if [Boris] Berezovsky [who was responsible for selecting Putin to be president] is to be believed, he was stunningly ineffectual as the chief of the secret police. ✂️
[Nataliya Gevorkyan, who co-wrote Putin’s official biography, says of him]: “He was no better and no worse than any of the K.G.B. officers I've interviewed—smarter than some of them and slier than some of them." ...he is "indecisive and not particularly courageous, and both respects and envies people who have real courage.”
Bottom line: Putin is not a master strategist. He’s a vengeful, greedy, small-minded thug with a bunch of secret police to do his bidding. And I think we’re seeing this in Ukraine, where Russia’s poorly-managed army is proving to be strong only when it’s using internationally-banned munitions.
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Musical break
Never give up the fight…
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Of course, despite my focus today on Ukraine, I did find good news stories from everywhere, as usual. But because this is such a long GNR already, I’ll post only a few.
Good news in politics
💙 Don’t forget that Biden’s State of the Union speech is scheduled to be broadcast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Biden administration shoots down DeSantis attempt to cut off care to migrant children
From The American Independent:
On Wednesday, the Biden administration formally told Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, that his administration's attempts to shut down federally funded shelters that are offering support to unaccompanied migrant children would not work.
The shelters, contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, assist undocumented children seeking asylum before they are reunited with a sponsor, usually a relative.
Mark Greenberg, general counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sent a letter on Tuesday to Ryan Newman, DeSantis' general counsel. Greenberg wrote that, despite DeSantis' rhetoric and his actions against shelters and other organizations providing care, "Florida cannot take action against federal contractors for activities that are expressly authorized by federal law."
Voters Do Not Support Banning Books from School Curriculums
From Data for Progress:
Seventy-one percent of likely voters – including 66 percent of Independents and 64 percent of Republicans – believe that local school boards should not have the authority to ban books from school curriculums.
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Good news from my corner of the world
A $100 million olive branch is on the table to ease bruised relations in [Oregon legislature]
The Eastern Oregon/Western Oregon, rural/urban, Repub/Dem divide has become increasingly rancorous, so a little reaching across the divide is welcome news.
From Oregon Public Broadcasting:
As Oregon lawmakers begin the final two weeks of this year’s legislative session, they are about to unveil their approach to a unique puzzle: How to spend more than $2.5 billion in surging revenue unplanned for when they passed the state budget last year.
The answer involves hundreds of millions for housing, climate change, mental health, job training and other pressing needs. But majority Democrats are also rolling the dice on an eye-popping olive branch: They are going to give minority Republicans $100 million to spend essentially as they see fit in their rural Oregon districts.
In a move with little precedent, House Speaker Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, alerted Republican leaders last week that Democrats were prepared to reserve a notable slice of the state’s budgetary bounty for GOP priorities. Part politics and part pragmatism, the offer would give the minority party far more influence over which projects make it through the crucible of the budgeting process.
“I’ve seen both parties be pretty contentious with one another,” said state Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, one of four lawmakers tasked with creating a plan for the money. “I believe the speaker of the House is saying, ‘Let’s see if there’s a better approach to public policy, one where we can all communicate together.’ It’s refreshing.”
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Good news from around the nation
Unaccompanied Migrant Teens Have Unique and Profound Needs. One New Orleans Teacher Created a Special School To Help Them
From The 74 Million:
[Teacher Julie Norman writes the word “motivation” on a whiteboard.] These kids know something about the topic. Most fled violence in Central America. Many traveled alone, on foot, to the United States, some with hopes of joining a parent they haven’t seen for years.
The names of the places they came from decorate the wall. Belen, Olancho, Yoro, San Pedro Sula, Puebla, Roatan, Tela, San Salvador.
Norman is a bilingual social worker. It’s her job to help these students simultaneously build new lives and heal the traumas of their journeys. In her lesson, the word “motivation” serves multiple purposes. It’s sophisticated vocabulary. Reading, writing and speaking the word boosts literacy and is constant practice in learning a new language. And it reinforces that as hard as the challenges are, progress is a reason to persist.
The exercise of looking up words and writing them down is part of every activity at Las Sierras Academy, New Orleans’s first formal effort to meet the particular needs of newly arrived immigrant youth. To succeed in high school, these teens must simultaneously perform three challenging tasks: quickly acquire academic skills most U.S. students learned years before, master high school-level content and learn enough English to move to regular classes.
Students in Five Chicago High Schools Surprised With Free College Ride–All Expenses Paid–And For Some Parents, Too
From Good News Network:
Students at five Chicago Public Schools this week got the news that all their college tuition will be paid for—along with room and board, books, fees and taxes.
Not only are these freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors getting the free ride, but also one of their parents or guardians.
The multi-generation scholarship program is being launched by Hope Chicago, the nonprofit led by former Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Janice Jackson.
HOPE Chicago has committed to raising $1 billion in support and funding over the next decade—and has raised $40 million already with funding partners that include several corporations, financial institutions, and private family foundations.
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Good news in medicine
Sound Waves Convert Stem Cells Into Bone in Regenerative Breakthrough
From Good News Network:
Researchers have used [high-frequency] sound waves to turn stem cells into bone cells, in a tissue engineering advance that could one day help patients regrow bone lost to cancer or degenerative disease. ✂️
Tissue engineering is an emerging field that aims to rebuild bone and muscle by harnessing the human body’s natural ability to heal itself.
A key challenge in regrowing bone is the need for large amounts of bone cells that will thrive and flourish once implanted in the target area. To date, experimental processes to change adult stem cells into bone cells have used complicated and expensive equipment and have struggled with mass production, making widespread clinical application unrealistic. Additionally, the few clinical trials attempting to regrow bone have largely used stem cells extracted from a patient’s bone marrow—a highly painful procedure.
In a new study, the RMIT research team showed stem cells treated with high-frequency sound waves turned into bone cells quickly and efficiently.
Importantly, the treatment was effective on multiple types of cells including fat-derived stem cells, which are far less painful to extract from a patient.
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Good news in science
Solar-Powered Desalination Device is a Game-Changer: Requires Only Cheap Common Materials and Sunlight
From Good News Network:
An estimated two-thirds of humanity is affected by shortages of water, and many such areas in the developing world also face a lack of dependable electricity. Widespread research efforts have thus focused on ways to desalinate seawater or brackish water using just solar heat. Many such efforts have run into problems with fouling of equipment caused by salt buildup, however, which often adds complexity and expense.
Now, a team of researchers at MIT and in China has come up with a solution to the problem of salt accumulation—and in the process developed a desalination system that is both more efficient and less expensive than previous solar desalination methods. The process could also be used to treat contaminated wastewater or to generate steam for sterilizing medical instruments, all without requiring any power source other than sunlight itself [and without parts vulnerable to salt buildup]. ✂️
The result is a layered system, with dark material at the top to absorb the sun’s heat, then a thin layer of water above a perforated layer of material, sitting atop a deep reservoir of the salty water such as a tank or a pond. … The holes [in the perforated layer] are large enough to allow for a natural convective circulation between the warmer upper layer of water and the colder reservoir below. That circulation naturally draws the salt from the thin layer above down into the much larger body of water below, where it becomes well-diluted and no longer a problem.
So far, the team has proven the concept using small benchtop devices, so the next step will be starting to scale up to devices that could have practical applications. Based on their calculations, a system with just 1 square meter (about a square yard) of collecting area should be sufficient to provide a family’s daily needs for drinking water, they say.
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Good news for the environment
Texas Emerges as Solar’s Next Frontier as Power Demand Booms
From Future Crunch, quoting Bloomberg [which is behind a paywall]:
Texas now has 106 GW of solar in its proposed pipeline. The motivation is clear: the Lone Star state boasts the fastest growth in power demand in the US, cheap land and abundant sunshine. “No one is sitting around saying ‘Are new solar additions going to slow down or collapse?' The only question seems to be ‘How high is this going to go?'”
An award showcased African solutions to plastic pollution
From Positive News:
Entrepreneurs in Africa are finding novel solutions to plastic pollution, turning the stuff
into house bricks (pictured), designer textiles, cooking fuel and more.
Such innovations are being celebrated by the Afri-Plastic Challenge, which announced its shortlist this week. The prize was launched to help entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa scale up their response to plastic pollution.
In the running for the £1m prize is a Nigerian project that turns plastic waste into designer textiles; a buy-back scheme in Kenya that helps women earn money through plastic recycling; and a Rwandan project that turns plastic waste into school benches. The prize will also offer dozens of grants up to £100,000 to startups with scalable ideas.
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Good news for and about animals
Brought to you by Rosy, Nora, and Rascal.
How you can help pets in Ukraine
Rosy, Nora, and Rascal all asked that today’s pet news corner start with links to organizations helping Ukraine’s animals. So here’s a list for those of you who want to help the beloved companions who had to be left behind when Ukrainians fled their homes:
From Surge:
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Casa lui Patrocle - the Romanian animal rescue charity, located 25 miles from the Ukrainian border, has pledged to help families fleeing by providing veterinary care to their companion animals.
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Sirius - the largest shelter for stray animals in Ukraine, established in 2000.
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Happy Paw - a charity that cares for homeless cats and dogs.
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UAnimals - works in Ukraine to protect animals from exploitation and abuse.
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Shelter Ugolyok - recently announced via its Instagram account that it is in need of help, with some animals having been moved to basements.
Rosy also wants you to know that there are dogs, even very tiny ones, standing with the Ukrainians:
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Hot lynx
www.theatlantic.com/… Calamity Again. “...something familiar is taking place in Ukraine.” An excellent backgrounder by Anne Applebaum, who wrote the definitive book on the Holodomor, the genocide-by-starvation that Ukraine suffered under Stalin. Indispensable for understanding why the Ukrainians are fighting as hard as they are.
www.poynter.org/...How to spot video and photo fakes as Russia invades Ukraine. A look at the techniques that journalists and other investigators use to verify whether images and videos are real and in accurate context. Very useful info!
www.nytimes.com/… 10 Consequential Days: How Biden Navigated War, Covid and the Supreme Court. A good piece (for a change) from the NYTimes showing how skillfully Biden has navigated the unprecedented challenges of the past ten days.
www.yesmagazine.org/… Billionaires Will Not Save Us. Here’s What Will. An excellent, concise argument for using the wisdom of indigenous communities to tackle climate change.
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Wherever is herd…
A tip of the hat to 2thanks for creating this handy info sheet for all Gnusies new and old!
Morning Good News Roundups at 7 x 7: These Gnusies lead the herd at 7 a.m. ET, 7 days a week:
- The Monday GNR Newsroom (Jessiestaf, Killer300, and Bhu). With their five, we survive and thrive.
- Alternating Tuesdays: NotNowNotEver and arhpdx.
- Wednesdays: niftywriter.
- Thursdays: Mokurai the 1st and 2nd Thursdays, WineRev the 3rd, MCUBernieFan the 4th, and Mokurai the 5th (when there is one).
- Fridays: chloris creator. Regular links to the White House Briefing Room.
- Saturdays: GoodNewsRoundup. Heart-stirring and soul-healing introduction and sometimes memes to succumb to.
- Sundays: 2thanks. A brief roundup of Roundups, a retrospective, a smorgasbord, a bulletin board, an oasis, a watering hole, a thunder of hooves, a wellness, a place for beginners to learn the rules of the veldt.
hpg posts Evening Shade diaries at 7:30 p.m. ET every day! After a long day, Gnusies meet in the evening shade and continue sharing Good News, good community, and good actions. In the words of NotNowNotEver: “hpg ably continues the tradition of Evening Shade.” Find Evening Shades here.
oldhippiedude posts Tweets of the Week on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. Central Time — New time! Our second evening Gnusie hangout zone! In search of a TOTW diary? Look here or here.
For more information about the Good News group, please see our detailed Welcoming comment, one of the first comments in our morning diaries.
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How to Resist: Do Something …
The following invaluable list was put together by chloris creator:
Indivisible has created a Truth Brigade to push back against the lies.
Propaganda, false characterizations, intentionally misleading messages, and outright lies threaten our democracy and even our lives. We can effectively combat disinformation, despite the well-funded machines that drive it. They may have money, but we have truth and we have people.People believe sources they trust.When we share and amplify unified, factual messages to those who trust us, we shift the narrative. When we do this by the thousands--we’re part of the Indivisible Truth Brigade, and we get our country back. Join us.️
Our own Mokurai is a member. You can see all of the diaries in the Truth Brigade group on DK here.
From GoodNewsRoundup (aka Goodie):
Most important: DON'T LOSE HOPE. This is a giant and important fight for us but, win or lose, we keep fighting and voting and organizing and spreading truth and light. We never give up.
And I’ll add a recommendation to check out Activate America (formerly Flip the West), which is recruiting people to send postcards to two categories of Dem voters: those who haven’t yet signed up for vote by mail where that’s established, and those whose GQP Representatives voted against the infrastructure bill. The messages are concise and easy to finish quickly.
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Closing music
❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Thanks to all of you for your smarts, your hearts, and
your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd.
❤️💙 RESIST, PERSIST, REBUILD, REJOICE! 💙❤️
