Stand with Ukraine

The Disinformation Landscape in Russia#

Freedom of speech in Russia exists on paper. In practice, no. Reliable information is hard to find in Russian-language open sources. Most Russian media pass their reporting through the filter of state propaganda, and what comes out reflects the interests of the political leadership rather than the facts.

Even so, the important information is out there. Anyone can reach it through verified sources.

The State Emergency Service continues to deal with the aftermath of Russia’s massive missile attack on Ukraine on January 2, 2024. Photo from State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Condemnation of the Invasion#

As the founder and chief editor, I do more than condemn the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. I hold it in deep contempt. It is a blatant war crime. It has already taken hundreds of thousands of lives, children among them. The Russian government and President Vladimir Putin bear responsibility personally. So do the citizens of Russia, whose political indifference and inaction made another war possible.

The Suppression of Dissent in Russia#

There was a time when Russians could speak more freely. The contrast with now is stark. Back in 2006, human rights activist Lev Ponomarev was arrested and held for three days after organizing a picket in Moscow. At the time, that counted as a relatively mild response.

The years since changed everything. Legislation tightened the rules for holding protests, pushed fines far higher, and added criminal liability for repeat violations of the law on rallies. Since 2014, nine of the thirteen significant amendments to that law have been aimed at narrowing the right to peaceful assembly. The result is plain. In the eyes of the authorities, a peaceful street protest is now a crime, and for the Russians who still believe protest is their right, an act of heroism.

Mass arrests of peaceful protesters, often with brutal treatment by the police, have become routine. And when the police use excessive force, as they did in January 2021, the authorities say nothing. That silence is what keeps the impunity going.

Legal Crackdown on Protests#

The point of those examples is simple. When the rules were looser, Russian society had room to disagree with the authorities without fearing serious consequences. That room mattered. It is what lets political activism shift the public and political situation through peaceful demonstration.

Key Resources on Civil Liberties in Russia#

These links go deeper on how the legal regulation of protest in Russia developed and changed:

• Wikipedia: Freedom of assembly in Russia
• Amnesty International: Russia: End of the road for those seeking to exercise their right to protest
• Human Rights Watch: Russia Criminalizes Independent War Reporting, Anti-War Protests

Russia’s Modern Military Conflicts#

Since 1991, modern Russia has taken part in a long list of military conflicts. Some of the key wars:

• First Chechen War (1994-1996)
• Second Chechen War (1999-2009)
• Russo-Georgian War (2008)
• Annexation of Crimea and intervention in Ukraine (since 2014)
• Military intervention in Syria (since 2015)
• Invasion of Ukraine (since 2022)

More detail on these and other conflicts is on the Wikipedia page listing wars involving Russia.

Two Ukrainian soldiers walk along the frontline city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. It is one of the hotspots nowadays after Russia launched a major offensive in mid-October 2023. Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov & Vlada Liberova / Getty Images

How You Can Help Ukraine#

This is a historic moment, and I am asking you, our readers, to stand against this violence. What you do for Ukraine matters more than you think. Money, support for refugees, asylum, supplies: every one of those is a step toward peace and human dignity in a time that gives little of either. Solidarity and resolve can outlast cruelty and lawlessness. I believe that.

A man with a bicycle goes through the city during a break between Russian shellings in the frontline Avdiivka, the Donetsk region. October 17, 2023. Photo by Ozge Elif Kizil / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

If you want to help the people of Ukraine, use these official and verified resources:

1. UNITED24: This is the official platform for collecting charitable donations to support Ukraine, launched by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Here you can direct funds to defense, humanitarian demining, medical assistance, reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as education and science.

2. EU Solidarity with Ukraine: This European Union initiative provides information on how to help Ukrainians who have fled the war or stayed in Ukraine. The website lists various organizations, including major international agencies and charitable organizations, providing assistance on the ground.

3. UNICEF assistance to Ukraine: This international organization urgently needs funds to assist children and their families in Ukraine. UNICEF provides assistance in safe water supply, healthcare, education, and protection.

Each of these sends aid where it is needed most, and each makes sure your contribution is used effectively and transparently.

Artem, a serviceman of the infantry battalion of the 61st Mechanised Brigade, pets a dog in a trench at a position near the frontline in the Kharkiv region. Photo by Sofia Gatilova / Reuters

Photos from the Frontline#

View more photos of the war in Ukraine.

Words of Hope and Resolve#

Fight and you shall overcome!
God helps you!
With you are truth, glory
And holy freedom!

Taras Shevchenko, “Caucasus”, 1859

In Ukrainian:

Борітеся — поборете!
Вам Бог помагає!
За вас правда, за вас слава
І воля святая!

Тарас Шевченко, “Кавказ”, 1859