John Vsetecka
@JohnVsetecka
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Historian. Writing about the history of famine in 🇺🇦. Postdoc @HURI_Harvard . Founder of @H__Ukraine . Advisory Board @forPEACE_news . Podcasts @NewBooksNetwork
Boston/Colorado/Ukraine
Joined October 2011
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Pinned Tweet
My website is now live. This makes things much easier for me since constantly moving between institutions makes it hard to keep an up-to-date profile. It's a simple site, but I like it. I'll make sure to update it regularly.
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These critiques of Zelenskyy’s outfit at the WH read strangely to me. You’re basically telling someone coming from a war zone to “dress better.” Yes, his clothes carry symbolism and he’s sending a message, but he’s living in a country at war. I’d ditch the suit, too.
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Not from Ukraine, but for Ukraine. One more for tonight, this one from our protest outside of the German Embassy in Warsaw. Sound on.
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I’ve said it before, but I’ll repeat it again: Russia’s war on Ukraine has been going on for 8 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days. The Russian invasion did not start on February 24, 2022, that’s just when escalation increased to the degree that it’s at now. Resist fatigue.
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Whenever I get back to the US, I promise to teach about all of this in my classes. I will bring in Ukrainian voices and let them tell their stories so students get Ukrainian perspectives. I’ll do what I can, in my capacity as an educator, to amplify Ukrainian voices.
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Please stop asking me for pictures of refugees. I don’t take them, and I don’t have them. They’re people, not a spectacle.
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Missing the view from what used to be my walk home. Taken in late fall 2021. I hope the weekend brings you all some solace. I’m exhausted, and I know you all are too. Rest up and take good care of yourself.
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I haven’t been on here much lately, but it’s been for the most excellent reason. My daughter debuted in the wee hours of this morning. Both she and mom are great. She sends her greetings to you all with a small wave.
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The owner of the apartment I’m renting brought me a crib for the folks we are hosting who just crossed. He helped me put it together and tried to make it comfy for the little one. He left toys, too. The people here are amazing. They are helping in so many ways.
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There’s not much to celebrate right now, but my friends and their baby safely crossed the border and are staying with me. We are all together. Feeling fortunate tonight.
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My Ukrainian colleagues, and now very close friends, attended my dissertation defense last week. Their lives disrupted by war, they are here in MI studying and working. They gifted me, with the help of relatives in Kyiv, this vyshyvanka after I defended. It was extra 1/2
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As the war drags on, I worry about public interest in Ukraine waning. It’s taken years to get Ukraine on peoples’ mental maps (it’s still absent from many), and I hope it doesn’t disappear during/after the war. One small act you can do to resist this is to talk and write about
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@sasha_zabelski
I was just thinking about this today. I saw a job ad earlier (for a history position that requires a PhD) that listed a salary in the 40s. That type of salary is, unfortunately, not uncommon in our field, but I get depressed every time I see those numbers.
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A quick introduction for new followers: I am a historian (PhD candidate) who was in Kyiv doing research for my dissertation until I was evacuated out with my Fulbright group at the end of January. We were relocated to Warsaw, where some of us are now. I am now working to help
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The
@nytimes
is hiring a Ukraine correspondent for their Kyiv office. Please share with interested journalists who might want to help NYT get their Ukraine coverage on point.
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Today, we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor. As a scholar of the Holodomor, I find it nothing short of tragic that this event has many parallels to Russia’s genocidal war taking place right now. I believe in knowledge as resistance, so I’m going to share 1/
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It makes me wonder about terms like genocide prevention and never again. To many of us who have long studied Ukraine, these terms feel very hollow right now. This isn’t the first time the world has turned away from Ukraine. You know this if you’ve studied your history. 1/3
Yale University historian Timothy Snyder says the evidence of Russian genocide in Ukraine is “clear” but argues that many in the West remain reluctant to directly accuse the Kremlin as this would oblige them to act more decisively.
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I’m amazed at all of the “Putin predictions” that continue to roll in. So many people who never expected bombs to drop on Feb. 24 now seem to know what is and is not possible for him. We don’t really know what’s next. And it’s terrifying.
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If any of you are looking to decolonize your syllabi next year and want suggestions for good works on Ukrainian history by historians of Ukraine/Ukrainian historians, let me know. I, and many others, will gladly offer some suggestions to help you include Ukraine in your classes.
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Our Ukrainian guest insisted on cooking dinner tonight. Can you guess what we are having?
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Friends, my body is shutting down. I’m starting to feel ill, a sure result of exhaustion and overwork. Trying to remain active and available for all in need. I’m no longer in Ukraine and have no reason to complain or feel this tired. Others have it much worse. I’m stepping
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Breaking for the night. This picture takes me back to what used to be my walk home each evening. A view that never gets old.
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I know many of you are leaving Twitter, and I understand (and support) your reasons for doing so. For those staying: why are you staying? I’m curious to know. I’m staying because this platform literally saved lives and helped refugees from Ukraine. When I was in Poland doing 1/3
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I’m helping out a lawyer who is working on behalf of a detained Czech man who is detained by ICE. The lawyer needs translations of documents from Czech to English. There are over 50 documents, and I cannot do them all by myself due to time. If any other translators of Czech can
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8 years, 5 months, and 5 days of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Resist fatigue. Keep paying attention. It matters.
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To continue this conversation on Ukrainian history courses being taught in US universities, I’m sharing some classes that were taught at various universities in 2022.
@TimothyDSnyder
’s garnered the most attention (and for warranted reasons), but it was far from the only one. 1/12
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A bit late announcing it here, but I’m happy to share that I’m spending the 2023-24 AY at
@HURI_Harvard
as a Jaroslaw and Nadia Mihaychuk Postdoctoral Fellow in Ukrainian Studies. I’ll be working on my book manuscript and starting new projects while in residence. It will be 1/2
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My sister, who is a student at CU-Boulder, is doing some archival work for me in their Ukrainian collections, and she came across some incredible photos of Kyiv from WWII. Heartbreaking to look at Ukraine in past rubble while it defends itself in the present.
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Wanted to give a quick shoutout to
@ksvarnon
for all of her hard work as of late. Her focus on Afro-Ukrainians, African, and South Asian international students is much needed, and I’m learning a lot. Following her lead, I’m sharing a couple more resources for those interested:
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From my landlord in Ukraine: “Still alive…you can hear explosions in the distance…we are at home praying.” Keep these people in your thoughts as we enter another night.
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Since talk of famine and the Holodomor are, unfortunately, present in the current moment, I encourage people to visit the Institute of History’s website (based in Kyiv) to read the long-standing Ukrainian scholarship on the topic. They have an amazing library and primary 1/4
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I finally watched "20 Days in Mariupol" this morning. Afterwards, I hugged my daughter extra tight, then I got back to writing. The narrator in the doc asked reflexively what it is that he could tell his daughter he did to stop this evil. For me, my resistance is 1/2
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Just a nudge to remind us that terminology matters right now. This is a war, not simply a crisis. Also, this didn’t start last Wednesday. This has been going on for eight years.
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Thinking back to the days when support for 🇺🇦 was so strong after Russia’s full scale invasion. Remember who did the invading. Remember who is fighting to survive. Ukraine deserves our continued support. We’ve got to do better.
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meaningful to have them there. They gave me this and told me that I now have, officially, a Ukrainian soul. A very kind and humbling gesture. Their generosity knows no bounds. Our support for 🇺🇦 continues. Onward. 2/2
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8 years, 3 months, 4 days and counting. That’s how long Ukraine has endured Russia’s war.
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We just recorded the podcast interview. It should be available in a few days. I’ll post it here when it’s out. Stay tuned!
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I took this photo exactly a year ago today as I walked into the city for dinner. A view that never gets old.
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I lit my candle in remembrance of the
#Holodomor
. I encourage you to join me and light a candle of your own.
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Captured on the way to dinner tonight. My walk home was even better. Laughter filled the air, people danced in the streets to Okean Elzy covers, and the world seemed better. Kyiv is best after 11pm.
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A good mail day. Congratulations again,
@SPlokhy
. I wish that such a book did not have to be written, but I’m thankful that one of the best took on the task. I’m looking forward to reading this.
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This gross reinterpretation of history is why we continue to promote and support experts on Ukrainian history. We are working furiously to build our expert list (available soon), but know that there many of us working overtime behind the scenes.
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This is what a normal classroom in Berkey Hall at MSU looks like. I took this in December 2022 after I taught my last class (something I do each year to remember the semester). Now, a shooter has turned our classrooms into spaces of horror. Our community grieves and mourns.
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I received this beautiful painting of St. Andrews in Kyiv from my grandmother as a gift for finishing my PhD. It just arrived to me in Boston. A beautiful and thoughtful gift!
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back briefly to rest. I’m still working and coordinating, but more from the living room of our apartment where we have four adults and one baby living together. It’s the reality of the war. I’ll keep doing my best to help.
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My author copy arrived today. Many thanks to Olena Palko and
@ferezmanuel
for putting together this volume. This is a great starter resource for learning about Ukraine. Perhaps some of you will use it in your upcoming courses; It’s great for undergrads.
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So much media wasted on Russian “election” coverage. Cover the farce and make it known to remind the public, sure, I get it, but then get back to keeping the focus on Ukraine. When the imperial center continues to demand attention, the focus gets skewed.
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I arrived home to find
@channelljustice
’s book waiting for me. I’m looking forward to reading it!
@HURI_Harvard
@H__Ukraine
@utpress
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A major European country endures daily terrorism and is constantly shelled by Russia, and they target civilians regularly. Ukraine is doing everything it can and more to defend itself. It’s ridiculous we aren’t doing more to help them end this war.
Putin is ringing in 2024 by launching missiles at Kyiv and around the country as millions of Ukrainians again take shelter in freezing temps. Loud explosions in Kyiv this morning. It’s urgent and critical that we support Ukraine now - to stop Putin here.
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Today, our Ukrainian guest experienced Costco for the first time. They really enjoyed all the free samples. When I asked them what we should have for dinner, they said, “We could just keep taking laps around the store and have more samples.” It was good to have a good day.
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We commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor this weekend. I commemorated and mourned together last year with Ukrainians in Kyiv. The history of the Holodomor matters more than ever, and people need to know about it. I’ve been researching and writing on the Holodomor 1/8
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Remember to light a candle tomorrow for the 90th commemoration of the Holodomor (photo from 2021 when I attended commemoration ceremonies in Kyiv.
#Holodomorawareness
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anyone crossing the border from Ukraine into Poland. Our Fulbright group is making ourselves useful in anyway that we can. Since Weds, we’ve found housing for refugees, conducted border runs, fundraised, and protested. We are working with professional help groups here to assist
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I’ve never seen a job posting quite like this. Clemson is looking for a University Historian to play an effective role in historical interpretation and understanding of the university’s past. A potentially great gig for public historians, historians of the south, and those of you
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Russia’s war on Ukraine. Increasing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. China doing military exercises near Taiwan. North Korea threatening to eliminate South Korea. Hard not to notice the many global escalations taking place simultaneously right now. A lot to consider right now.
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More and more people are arriving here in Poland. We are working to help them get settled, find housing, and keep in touch with those still in Ukraine. Keep mobilizing resources: it’s helping. I’m grateful to everyone who has reached out so far.
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In an endless bad news cycle, a piece of good news: we just placed two Ukrainians in a good housing situation that allows friends to stay together. The people of Poland have really stepped up to offer their homes and lives to those crossing the border. I’m so impressed.
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Finally, a job focused on Ukrainian cultural studies. Those who study and teach Ukrainian language, please apply. Share widely among your networks.
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The experts who have documented genocide have the evidence. Read their reports, it’s all there. The UN findings disagree. Not surprising. The League of Nations failed to do anything about the Holodomor, despite Mowinckel’s efforts. Patterns emerge here in seeing international 2/3
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We have so much to learn from Ukrainian resiliency and community support. They shouldn’t have to be doing this, though.
People are helping to clear the severely damaged Transfiguration Cathedralin Odesa. Video Sispilne Odesa.
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bodies consistently fail Ukraine on issues of genocide. But then they say things like never again. Will their response now be “Never Again, but after Ukraine”? 3/3
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Looking to study Ukrainian this summer? Consider studying (virtually) with instructors at the School of Ukrainian Language and Culture at UCU. I spent summers in Lviv studying with them, and they are great. Details:
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I was glad to see
@SPlokhy
’s newest book front and center at the Harvard Book Store today. I highly recommend the book. It’s an important read, and it comes at a critical time.
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The Council of Europe adopts a resolution that recognizes the Holodomor as an act of genocide.
@HolodResearchEd
Today,
@coe
adopted a resolution calling the
#Holodomor
an act of genocide aimed at the destruction of the Ukrainian nation and its people. This is an important step in remembering the millions of victims and seeking justice for them.
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Dear new followers, I’m glad you’ve joined me here. For those who don’t know me, I’m a PhD candidate finishing a dissertation on the 1932-33 Holodomor and 1946-47 famine in Soviet Ukraine. I was in Ukraine during 2021-22 until my Fulbright cohort was evacuated to Poland. I 1/3
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This is really amazing. A whole course dedicated to the Holodomor. Kudos to Henry for teaching this. I hope more colleges and universities will solicit such courses.
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A somber household this morning. Petro Mohyla Black Sea University in Mykolaiv, where our Ukrainian guest/colleague works, was bombed last night. As far as we know, no one was hurt. Ukrainian educational institutions continue to be targeted. Let this madness end.
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in many ways. I see the harassment and abuse that many face. I’ve had it, too. Still, I saw more good people than bad, and I’ll forever be thankful for everyone’s help during the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Hoping many of you stick around here. 3/3
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Friends, I wrote this to help instructors and professors include more scholarship on Ukraine in their upcoming classes. I hope it will be of use to those of you working to include Ukraine, in some way, into your syllabi. Thanks to
@SarahKingHist
and
@cliocontemp
for publishing.
In "Let Ukraine Speak," historian
@JohnVsetecka
offers suggestions for integrating scholarship on
#Ukraine
️, as well as Ukrainian primary sources & fiction, into survey, upper-level, and graduate syllabi for the coming year.
#History
#syllabus
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I’m buried with requests from people who want to help right now. It’s beautiful and I’m so thankful. But, a reminder: please consult the professional orgs and groups who are organizing. They have plans and can instruct you where to help. Lots of folks are showing up to
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All of Ukraine is in my thoughts, but I’m especially thinking of Kyiv and Kharkiv tonight.
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From the Ukraine I know and love. This was the view our Ukrainian language group looked at each day in 2018 while we studied in the Carpathian Mountains. The small hut featured in the right picture was my group’s actual classroom.
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An update thread: As you have likely read, the US Embassy in Kyiv is evacuating non-essential personnel and their families from Ukraine. This order to leave Ukraine includes the Fulbright Ukraine program (which I am part of this year), and the program has been temporarily
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writing. It's nothing compared to what so many others in Ukraine are doing. But I hope writing about Ukraine will mean something. My daughter will one day ask me, too, what I did to fight this evil. Your kids might ask it of you. Have your answer ready. 2/2
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From the Ukraine I know and love. Pathways, waterways, and views of Kyiv and Trukhaniv Island. I took these in October 2021 after just arriving for my Fulbright. The fall time last year was incredibly beautiful.
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Grad students working on research topics related to Ukraine and Russia who need to be in country for your research, how are you all adjusting? I know many of you are far enough along in your projects that it’s difficult to change topics, but it’s unlikely you will get to these
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I’m thrilled to share that I’m joining
@NewBooksNetwork
as a podcast host to talk with authors who work in Ukrainian Studies (and beyond!). I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, and I’m grateful to Marshall Poe for making it happen. If you’ve published in the field of 1/2
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Russia is doing its best to make the destruction of libraries, among other cultural and social institutions, a normal occurrence. This isn’t normal. It’s terrorism.
Russia continues to commit war crimes and destroy Ukrainian culture. This library in Kherson was hit by a Russian missile at dawn, causing a massive fire. When rescuers arrived at the scene, more strikes followed. Yesterday, Kherson marked one year since liberation
📷
@suspilne
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Friends: contacts on the borders tell me that there are plenty of people there now and that folks coming to help shouldn’t go there. Avoid clogging the system and creating problems. Let’s help create more streamlined help. Many other ways to get involved.
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Read the work of real historians. Read the work of real journalists. Don’t platform fools. Donate to Ukrainian causes. Check in on your Ukrainian friends and colleagues. Call your reps. Be an activist.
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Foggy Kyiv, one year ago. I always loved my walks home after work. A truly great city to walk in, think, and dream.
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I often use this overlay map to show my students the size of Ukraine. Many are surprised how big of a country it is. Regardless of dimensions, the whole of the country faces terrorism every day. We live in a world that continues to allow this to happen. Let’s work to be better.
This is the size of Ukraine compared to the US. Imagine an air raid siren going off from New Jersey to Missouri, from Michigan to North Carolina. A Ukrainian territory of the same size is currently under a missile attack from Russia. And the same goes on every week.
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humanitarian work with friends and colleagues earlier this year, the people in this network came together and helped us find housing, rides, jobs, money, and other essentials. I didn’t really believe in social media as a force for good until that. I’m still skeptical of it 2/3
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Students of years past wrote to me tonight to check in and express their solidarity with Ukraine. I can’t tell you how much that means today.
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First hospitals, now kindergartens. Going after children is the ultimate cowardice.
#CloseTheSky
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For those interested in the Pope and Vatican’s attitudes toward Ukraine (a hot topic right now) from a historical perspective, consider reading some primary sources for yourself. Not an unproblematic volume, but it will give you some insight. Hint: failures to respond aren’t new.
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Don’t get too washed away in TC and his distractions with P—it’s what they want. Instead, donate to your preferred Ukrainian org that is keeping its focus on Ukraine. Our support of Ukraine must continue.
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Just a reminder to donate to your preferred Ukrainian causes and organizations. Even a little bit will go a long way.
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Still standing strong with Ukraine here in East Lansing, MI.
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Back to the dissertation. I hope that it will contribute something meaningful to our knowledge of Ukraine’s past.
#amwriting
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Friends, I’m going to be slow on here today. We are working to help people get out of Ukraine (all I can say for now). I’ll be on here when possible. Keep sharing everything you can.
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