Day 75. Never Forgive.
Odesa + A few words about Germany.
Odesa, Ukraine, 9 May 2022
Alona - Ukraine DAO, [9 May 2022 at 21:06:08]:
are you alive??
M., [9 May 2022 at 21:06:19]:
Yes
In the basement
Alona - Ukraine DAO, [9 May 2022 at 21:06:27]:
how are you feeling?
M., [9 May 2022 at 21:06:33]:
very scared
Yesterday, a cruise missile flew near us
We lay on the ground. We were walking the dog when the air raid siren went off and so we went home. I laid on the ground under my boyfriend. He kept the dog between us I think. I don't remember anything, he told me all this afterwards. We ran home and I looked at the pulse on the Apple Watch [photo of the watch with 193 showing the highest pulse]
Alona - Ukraine DAO, [9 May 2022 at 21:07:52]:
I have no words
I hope they all burn in hell
M., [9 May 2022 at 21:11:37]:
Me too
I hope I survive
I heard they had fireworks in honor of the victory day. And to the fireworks they decided to send us rockets
It’s getting worse and worse in Odesa
Hey everyone.
A bit busy at the moment, but just wanted to let you know that the drug cartel with tanks AKA russia had a parade for “victory day” today - celebrating war and death. Not much to say here, I just hope that people who are supportive of russia in any way these days burn in hell.
The views expressed in today’s blog reflect my personal views only, by the way. Also, please take a look at the request for help in the end of this post.
A few words about about Germany
I got in trouble the other day for saying (in one of the Twitter Spaces I joined) that Germany is complicit in genocide of Ukrainians that russia is committing. Quite a few angry Germans messaged me after that - they were very offended by the fact that Ukrainians refuse to die quietly.
Someone even reached out to me today to say my continued mistrust of the German society was pathetic. Previously he was very surprised by the fact that I was upset about what was happening in Ukraine, and that I refused to be featured in his documentary about the struggling russian activists. He was also offended by my use of the word “genocide” about Ukrainians, so I wanted to give Markus a special shoutout in this blog.
More understanding Germans sometimes ask me what I think they should do and here is a summary of what I say to them:
There is a genocide happening right now in Ukraine. It is committed by russia.
Germany is one of the key countries funding russia through paying for its oil and gas. It also has shown very limited support to Ukraine.
Pressure your local politicians to provide weapons to Ukraine. Protest as much as you can. And for the love of god, do not message Ukrainians if they say something that offends you about Germans. Be offended at the German government instead - it puts your own security in jeopardy because it values money over your life and the lives of everyone on the continent. There should be riots happening by now in Germany.
Explore other ways for Germans to help Ukrainians here. You may also find helpful How to help Ukraine as a foreigner - Ukraine DAO Notion page.
Fortunately, that day I received lots of messages expressing support too - this one in particular really cheered me up:
Also would like to say thank you to our German translator who did a great job translating the RIA Novosti article into German for Ukraine DAO. We will be sharing more of her translations in the coming days. This article was initially translated into English on request of the analytical department of Come Back Alive by Yuriy, our Translation & Writing Pod Lead.
🇩🇪 - Twitter Feed
“Munich today. The demonstration of the russian scum is guarded by an iron fence and German police. Ukrainians are not allowed.”
Request for help - Mike
Mike is looking for help with getting gear for his Ukrainian friends. Please read his story below and contact him by email if you can help - mike.bruggink@gmail.com or IG @mike.1.61803.
“Hi, my name is Mike Bruggink, I was in Ukraine right before the pandemic, filming a documentary about Ukrainian scientific discoveries at the Kyiv institute of Gerontology. While I was there I met some amazing people and have kept in touch with them over the last couple years. My friend Nikita is among the amazing Ukrainians I met in 2020. He is currently in the country and he posted about needing body armor for himself and his countrymen. As I understand it, donations can only be made by the DAO to highly vetted NGO's and he's just a regular person like you and me. If anyone has the ability to help out, I'm sure he'd be eternally grateful. His IG is nikita_netrebko and mine is mike.1.61803 I'm also an ex soldier and I know first hand what it's like to be in a war without the gear you need. It's a horrible feeling and I know body armor isn't a guarantee of safety, but it makes a big difference. I appreciate any assistance from the bottom of my heart.”
Chilling account of your friend in Odessa. I try to understand but can't replicate the experience in my memories. Maybe it is like the time a house near me exploded from natural gas. Or perhaps when a shopping mall collasped a few miles away. Could it feel like when a neighbor shoots off his canon? Or during a lightning storm sends down a powerful bolt? When a tornado passes over and the barometric pressure plummets? Or during a hurricane with the unrelenting power for hours. Is it like all of those experiences rolled together x 1000?
Most of those enduring this are all so young. I wish I could gather them all together and protect them from this wicked world. As a hen gathers chicks, tucking them beneath her wings. Yet I can do nothing.
I believe that this war will impact my homeland in a physical way very soon. I know when it does, I will not be friendless. I have new brothers and sisters from a land far far away. #SlavaUkraini 🇺🇦 Also, I should add, we have been preparing our hearts for the fight to come here. And we give our support knowing it will have a price. As it comes we shall pay that price. 💙💛