Olga Tokariuk
@olgatokariuk
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Academy Associate @ChathamHouse @CHUkraineForum. @CEPA non-resident fellow, ex @risj_oxford. Opinions my own
Joined April 2013
Bringing his own chair, sitting few meters from a crowd of journalists, speaking his mind with sincerity and courage, not afraid of anything: meet Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, a true leader of the free world.
Ukraines Präsident schläft am Tag nur drei Stunden, aber ist immer noch freundlich. Bald mehr bei @BILD zum Presse-Gespräch mit @ZelenskyyUa
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Russia's war against Ukraine, day three. Early morning here in Ukraine. Kyiv is standing. Enemy tanks were destroyed in the western part of the city. Sounds of gunfire and street fighting. President Zelensky is in the capital. Brave Ukrainian heroes continue to defend their land.
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The first person I know died in this war. My former colleague, TV cameraman Yevhenii Sakun, was killed yesterday as a result of Russian missile strike on Kyiv's Babyn Yar, along with 4 other people. It was a pleasure working with him. I'm devastated by this news. Eternal memory
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Ukrainian soldiers are real heroes. For more than 16 hours they are resisting a much stronger enemy. They are on their own land and fight fiercely to protect it, as well as lives of millions of innocent civilians. History is being made now. I am proud of my Ukraine 🇺🇦.
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Prime ministers of Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia arrived to Kyiv today, in a powerful show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. These are true Slavic brothers of Ukraine, not Russians
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Ukrainian police general Vyacheslav Abroskin offered to surrender himself to Russians if they allow him to enter Mariupol and evacuate children who are stuck there under the bombs. 'I will surrender to captivity at the last checkpoint at the city exit if kids are allowed to pass'
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Marianna from Mariupol's bombed hospital gave birth to a baby girl yesterday, her aunt told me. The baby is 3200 grams and is healthy. She was named Veronika - in honour of Nike, the goddess of victory. Victory of Ukraine. Photos by Evgeniy Maloletka
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I've been writing and commenting non-stop for 11 days. Today, I could barely get out of bed. I can't bring myself to write anything longer than a tweet. I am sorry I'm not responding to media requests. The war in my country is a personal tragedy I still have difficulty to accept.
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It feels weird to celebrate my birthday amid all the horrors of war. Yet, I wanted to celebrate it. Russia is trying to deprive us of our normal lives, of joy, of happy moments. It will fail. I am happy to be alive and grateful to be with my loved ones today 🙏💙💛
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My husband took this photo of me today. There is a beautiful spring outside, everything is in bloom and I had a haircut for the first time since the start of the war. We will persevere. Ukraine will win.
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An emotional performance of Ukrainian figure skaters Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin at the world championship in France. They are from Kharkiv, Nazarov spent weeks there under Russian bombs. They had less than a month to prepare this dance and no time to make costumes
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I've just learnt that a husband of my close friend has been killed in the war. He was a filmmaker and volunteered to join the Ukrainian armed forces after the full-scale Russian invasion. They were such a beautiful couple and had a 9 y.o. daughter. RIP, Viktor Onysko 💔😭
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President Zelensky to NATO: we asked for fighter jets, you have thousands of them, but haven't got any. You have 20,000 tanks - we need just 1% of them. We need them defend our country. We just want to live, to survive. I believe it's everyone's right.
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It's surreal that Ukraine, the country that has been suffering from Russian bombing, murders, rapes, gets blamed by some for a possible global food crisis because 'it refuses to cede territory to Russia'. How about blaming Russia for starting the war and blocking Ukrainian ports?.
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As the ambassador of Belarus was leaving Ukraine today, a Ukrainian border guard tossed a bag with coins at him, told him to pass the 30 silver pieces of Judah to the head of Belarusian border service. Video via @operativnoZSU
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If you want to know how Ukrainians react to Putin's speech, here's a glimpse: moms on Facebook discuss putting stickers on their children's clothes, when they go to school, indicating their blood type. Make no mistake: this speech was perceived as a declaration of war on Ukraine.
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To those calling on Ukraine to surrender because they can't stand watching the horrors of war: that's not going to happen. Russia wants to destroy Ukraine, in one way or another. Get a grip, sanction Russian oil and gas, send more weapons to Ukrainians.
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Ukrainian military is making miracles. Not only it managed to stop Russian ground offensive. Not only it is holding Mariupol for a month already. It's pushing Russians back and liberating towns! But it comes at a cost. Ukraine needs more weapons: tanks, jets, air defence.
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'I dedicate this medal to Ukraine, to the Ukrainian armed forces, to Ukrainian athletes who couldn't compete at the Olympics because they were killed by Russia': powerful words of Olga Kharlan after winning bronze in fencing for Ukraine today 🥉 #ParisOlympics2024
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Russia withdraws from the Snake Island, claiming it's a sign of 'goodwill'. The truth is they have been pounded by Ukrainian forces using Western artillery. The conclusion: give Ukraine more Western weapons to force Russia do more 'goodwill' withdrawals from the occupied 🇺🇦 land.
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It's a mistake to think that NATO support to Ukraine would be a provocation for Putin. He is provoked by the weakness, not by strength. There was no objective reason for Russia to invade Ukraine. Putin did it because he knew he would get away with it. Next move: attack on NATO.
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This granny from Kyiv region was worried that the sound of fighting scared her dog, so she took care of him as good as she could ❤️🩹
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You know why Ukrainians will win this war? Because they are united as never before. I will tell you about a huge effort of solidarity unfolding right now in the Ukrainian society, just one example. Let's start. We are in the Western Ukraine 🧵.
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Frankly I cannot tweet all the terrible news we are getting in Ukraine every day. Each day, more and more personal stories of people who were killed, raped, tortured. All normal people, looking like next-door neighbours. It makes me feel sick, fills me with so much anger and hate.
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11-year-old Ukrainian gymnast Katya Dyachenko died as a result of Russian bombing of Mariupol. How many more Ukrainian children have to die for Ukraine to finally receive air defence systems and fighter jets? For how long our children will be the shields protecting the EU/NATO?
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I'm in Kyiv, I'm safe and I'm going to bed. Please stop panicking everybody. That doesn't help us in Ukraine.
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"What the f.k are you doing here? I am Russian too, but I live in this state. You have your country, we have ours. Don't you have problems in your country to solve? Are you all rich there, as in the Emirates? You're just puppets".Love this gradpa in Melitopol, Zaporizhia region.
Grandpa is reprimanding the Russian soldiers in Melitopol like they are children. “I’m also Russian. Don’t you have any problems in the state?”
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Czech Republic said it is suspending granting visas to Russian citizens. Other countries should follow suit. Next steps: kick out Russia from international organizations. Freeze their assets in the West. Impose sanctions on energy sector. Act now.
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A new day has begun here in Ukraine. Kyiv is still standing. Ukrainian forces fiercely resist. 800 Russian occupiers killed. 13 Ukrainian soldiers died as heroes at the Serpent island, after refusing to surrender. The world is watching, but is doing far too little to #StopPutin.
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I received an update from a relative of Marianna - a pregnant girl from Mariupol's bombed hospital. They were able to reach her on the phone briefly. Last night at 10pm, Marianna gave birth to a baby girl! They are ok, but it's very cold in Mariupol and the bombing doesn't stop
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Sometimes I have a feeling that France, Italy and some other European countries live in an alternative reality. They feel so safe under the NATO umbrella, so used to decades of stability that they can't fully grasp that mere 2000 km away a dictator is waging a war of annihilation.
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Russians killed another person I knew, another journalist. I met Oleksandr Makhov in Sloviansk several years ago. He was one of the best Ukrainian war reporters. He joined the army after Russian full-scale invasion and was killed in combat near Izium. He was so young. RIP
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One of the most chilling things for me is watching and reading comments by Russians to what their country is doing in Ukraine. They either think these are all fakes, or are convinced that Ukrainian army is bombing its own civilians.The level of hate to Ukrainians is mind-boggling.
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This woman from Bucha found her cat Sima after 45 days of separation. The cat escaped when they were evacuating in early March. The woman has been coming to her house in search of the cat since last week, and finally today Sima was there, exhausted but alive. 📷 A. Horpinchenko
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There is one big difference between how Ukrainians and many well-wishing Westerners view the ending of Russia's war. Many in the West hope for peace, whatever the terms of it. Ukrainians know peace is only possible if Ukraine wins. Help us defeat Putin, don't appease him!.
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The sun has risen in Ukraine. It's day four since Russia invaded. Kyiv is standing firmly. Russian war criminals hit an oil depot near Kyiv and a gas pipeline in Kharkiv with missiles, causing fire and environmental damage. Another missile hit close to a radioactive waste storage.
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A whole new historical narrative is being created in Ukraine now. New names of heroes, new locations of battles. Streets will be named after them, books will be written about their feats, movies will be made telling their stories. It will happen beyond Ukraine too. Forget WWII.
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It's almost as if Russians have withdrawn for all the world to see the horrors they left behind.
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Yesterday, while we were sitting in a bomb shelter, everyone glued to their phones, someone turned on the latest video by Ukraine's president Zelensky. There were all the right words in it to lift our spirits. I am grateful our country has such a great leader in these tough times
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I was asked today by a foreign TV presenter what is my biggest fear in the current situation. Frankly, I was irritated at this question. We, Ukrainian adults, do not have time to fear and think of dark scenarios. We feel anger and determination to defend our children and our land.
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Art amid destruction. A musician is playing cello in central Kharkiv, destroyed by Russia. Video @suspilne
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I just spoke with a man who was abducted by Russians in Kherson reg and spent weeks in captivity. He was beaten, tasered, ribs broken. His main takeaway about Russians? 'They are cowards. Their main fear is to be sent to frontline: they are scared to death of the Ukrainian army'.
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Mariupol siege and total annihilation of the city by Russians should have been a turning point. Bucha massacre should have definitely been a game changer. They were not. Will the use of chemical weapons by Russia be? How many more #RussianWarCrimes will the world tolerate?.
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Great news that Sweden and Finland are going to become NATO members. Once the war is over, Ukraine should join too. Yes, sounds ambitious now. But we in Ukraine dream big.
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More good news: volunteer paramedic Yulia Payevska, known as Taira, has been released from Russian captivity and is now at home, president Zelensky said
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Russian soldiers film and publish videos of how they mutilate genitals and then shoot a Ukrainian POW in the head. How is this different from ISIS videos where they slaughtered people in front of the camera? Russia is a terrorist state and must be designated as such.
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When I left Kyiv, I only took the most essential items with me.Three pairs of pants, few shirts, a coat, a pair of boots.Half of these were by @UNIQLO_JP,my favorite brand. As it still refuses to withdraw from Russia,I feel I have to throw these clothes and never buy Uniqlo again.
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Ukraine has hit Russian missile cruiser "Moskva" in the Black Sea, Odesa regional governor Maksym Marchenko said. 'Russian ship is severely damaged', he claimed.
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The world needs to think what to do not just with Putin, but with Russian society. Lies, hate, feeling of imperial superiority, cynicism, total disregard for laws, rules and human life are widespread. No values-based system, only aimed at destruction is a danger to everyone.
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I want to thank each and every European who supported Ukraine today at #Eurovision Your solidarity is so important. It brightens our days and nights. We feel we are not alone. I hope you liked the song too! .🇺🇦 next goal: EU candidate status 🤞😊.
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Russian military purposely searched for people who served our country in Bucha to kill them. They shot and killed women and children. Civilians were crushed by tanks while sitting in their cars. Women were raped and killed in front of their children - Zelensky at the UN.
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Kyiv now. Russians will never be forgiven for this. The last time similar scenes were witnessed in the Ukrainian capital was during the attack of Nazi Germany in WWII
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Russia dropped a bomb on a building of a drama theatre in Mariupol, where about a thousand people, including children, were sheltering. The number of casualties is unknown. Rescuers cannot work in the city because of constant bombardment. I don't have words left #SaveMariupol.
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💔 My dear friend, Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina has passed away. She was seriously injured in the Russian missile attack on Kramatorsk on June 27th and died on July 1st. This is us in London in April. So many books unwritten, stories untold, days unlived 💔 Because of Russia
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Russians cowardly and dishonorably executed this unarmed Ukrainian POW. His last words were 'Glory to Ukraine'. He was shot repeatedly after saying it. If Russians did it with a goal of intimidating Ukrainians, they achieved the opposite effect: he will be forever seen as a hero
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A mural in Kyiv by a Ukrainian artist Sasha Korban. 'We will stand, we will win". His post and call for donations:
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Ukrainian defenders at Azovstal in Mariupol have a right to be evacuated. They are appealing to international organizations or a third country (like Turkey) to launch an 'extraction' procedure. They know they cannot surrender to Russians because they would be executed.
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I was staying strong today, not letting my emotions prevail. But I just read a post from my friend and burst into tears. As she and her 5-year old child woke up at the sound of explosions in Kyiv today, her daughter asked 'Mom, so is this war? Have Russians come to kill us?'.
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Mriyas and Javelins: new Ukrainian toys. I bought a Mriya for my kid, because every child needs to have a Dream
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Russian occupiers strike a maternity hospital in Mariupol. Multiple casualties reported.
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All women, children and elderly people have been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol: Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine's deputy prime minister.
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A calm morning in Kyiv. Fresh snow is falling. Thank you all for your concern and support #StandWithUkraine.
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Putin in his speech made it clear that Russia is at war with the West. Still, some people in the West continue to believe this war only concerns Ukraine, preach surrender and get scared of Ukrainian advances, while bleeding Ukraine is literally shielding them from this evil.
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Day 46 of Ukraine resistance. Russia is trying to crush Ukraine, it bombs civilians, its soldiers torture, rape and kill Ukrainians. Russian society is silent and intimidated. Against the odds, Ukrainians are fighting and winning. They need all possible support to defeat the evil.
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These are the photos of wounded Ukrainian soldiers at Azovstal, published by the Azov regiment. There are no sterile bandages and medicines to treat them. 'We call on ICRC, UN to prove your humanity and save wounded people who are not combatants anymore', their statement reads
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The mobilization and self-support of Ukrainians is truly amazing. For twelve days, our children have been deprived of a possibility to go to school because of war. Now some schools, including expensive private ones, opened a free access to online education to all Ukrainian kids.
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Day 90 of Ukraine resistance. For 3 months, Russia has been bombing and launching missiles on Ukraine, its soldiers killed, raped and looted. More than a million of Ukrainians deported. But Ukraine is still standing, north regions liberated. World must not get tired to support 🇺🇦.
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This is how dinner tables in Ukraine look like when you have a house full of internally displaced persons.
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Air raid alerts almost all over Ukraine's territory now. The sinking of Moskva ship obviously wasn't well received in Moscow.
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My heart is bleeding for Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands are besieged without water, food, medicines, under constant bombardment. 2180 people are officially confirmed dead. Russia doesn't allow humanitarian aid to enter the city. It wants people to die there in pain.
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These stories of raped children, teenage girls being made pregnant after multiple rapes by Russian soldiers literally make me feel sick. Unbearable. All those bastards must rot in hell.
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Bucha was one of the loveliest and richest suburbs of Kyiv. Everyone wanted to live there, among pine trees, next to a gorgeous park. Its location just 20 km from Kyiv was perfect for those working in the capital. Bucha will be rebuilt, but it never be a carefree resort anymore
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We manage to smile even in bomb shelters, especially when in a furry company
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In his latest video address, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky blasts NATO for its refusal to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, says it's a sign of weakness. Says the only assistance Ukraine received so far through NATO procurement system is 50 tons of diesel
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A lot of Russian-speaking Ukrainians write on social media that they are switching to Ukrainian as a sign of loyalty and in reaction to Putin's speech. The more Putin tries to convince everyone that Ukrainians do not exist, the more he strengthens Ukrainian national identity.
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When I hear calls on Ukraine to compromise/cede territory to Russia, I think of 2014. Then, Ukraine didn't resist the occupation of Crimea. But Russia wasn't happy with it: it launched a war in Donbas and a full-scale invasion 8 years later.Concessions make Russia's appetite grow.
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It is utterly heartbreaking to see these appeals from Mariupol and almost a total lack of response to them.
Woke up to a video of a Mariupol defender begging the world to get them and civilians out, because they are outnumbered and have days, if not hours left to live. There are more than 500 wounded soldiers and over 1000 civilians sheltering there at Azovstal
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Ukraine urgently needs more weapons delivery, especially aircraft, air defence systems, president Zelensky said while addressing Joint Expeditionary Force nations. 'The volume you give for one week we use in 20 hours. For one of our tanks, Russia has 100'.
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If you want to support Ukraine, consider donating to:.- a charity providing psychological support to children with war trauma.- a suicide prevention line for veterans.- a charity providing assistance to IDPs.
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It's my husband's birthday today and we are eating a cake in a basement because air raid sirens just went off all over the country. Ukrainians' lives and family rituals have become so surreal now. Yet, we persevere and adapt to this new reality, thankful for every new day of life.
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President Zelensky says sanctions imposed on Russia not sufficient, calls for a trade embargo, ban on the use of Russian ports, disconnection of all Russian banks from SWIFT. He says the world didn't react strongly enough to Russian seizure of two nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
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Russia signaled it is not ready to implement ceasefire, it wants Ukraine to surrender. This is not going to happen - Ukraine's foreign minister Kuleba after talks with Lavrov in Antalya.
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"Mia was born in shelter this night in stressful environment- bombing of Kyiv. Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving. When Putin kills Ukrainians we appeal to mothers in Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia war in Ukraine" via @HopkoHanna
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The regime change in Russia won't be enough to transform the country. There's a deeper problem with Russian society and culture. Even Russian 'liberals' repeatedly expressed imperialistic ideas re foreign policy and Ukraine. There is tolerance to war and aversion to democracy.
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The West should not fall in self-compassion now and pretend there's nothing it can do to help Ukraine. Give us military, financial, humanitarian assistance. Impose nuclear sanctions on Russia. Kick it out from international organizations. Think out of the box. Time to act is now.
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Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. We had two air alerts in Ukraine today. But Russians failed to stop us from singing carols and spending time with family. Many of us also had electricity because energy workers did their best to make our Christmas bright. So grateful 🙏
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One important result of this war is that fight against disinformation and propaganda is finally taken seriously. Tech giants, individual countries and the EU are blocking Russian propaganda media. It's sad it's being done so late, as they've spent years dehumanizing Ukrainians.
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No one in the West anticipated the collapse of the USSR. Propaganda worked so well that the world believed Soviet empire would be eternal. In the same way, few in the West thought Russia would suffer a defeat in the war in Ukraine. But it's might has been greatly exaggerated.
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A haunting image of a woman killed by Russians in Irpin. Keys of her house next to her body, with the EU flag on a keychain.
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If you sympathize with Ukraine and its children, affected by war, please consider donating to the charity organisation 'Voices of children', helping Donbas kids to overcome trauma of war. I know and trust these people. Click 'help children' to donate
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A lot of outrage in Ukraine over Pope Francis' idea to have Ukrainian and Russian women to hold cross together at Via Crucis yesterday. Having Ukrainian Irina and Russian Albina to do it was perceived in 🇺🇦 as equating the victim and the aggressor, as the Russian invasion goes on.
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People judging @ZelenskaUA Vogue photos as 'frivolous' would probably be outraged that Ukrainians still go out, dress up, buy presents to kids, celebrate birthdays. If 🇺🇦 defenders on the frontline say life should continue, why some foreigners feel entitled to deny us this right?.
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Ukrainians on the frontline and beyond are incredibly courageous and brave. Yet, they are humans. They all will have to deal with war trauma eventually. Please think how you across the globe can provide psychological support to them. Start with refugees in your countries.
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It's so cynical and manipulative to call Russians fleeing the mobilization 'refugees' or 'people also escaping from war'. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. No, these people are not fleeing war, they flee from responsibility for it. Their tacit support enabled it.
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It's the end of the 51st day of war, and I am feeling very tired. It's difficult to live in hope it will end soon, just to see more terrible news of Russian crimes every day. Yet it would be worse to lose hope #StandWithUkraine️.
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