war

Secrecy in WaAmidst the ongoing conflicts and escalating violence in Ukraine, the Ukrainian government has issued an urgent message to soldiers and civilians, urging them not to disseminate any information about troop movements, attacks, or similarly sensitive military details. This measure is seen as a crucial component of the ongoing Ukrainian military offensive to ensure its success and safety.

Until recently, I was planning to publish my new article about the sacralization of women in Ukrainian society with different words, but having already completed my text and worked on my editing, I was scrolling through the feed on Instagram and came across a poem from my close friend Artur Dron. It was writing published a few minutes ago. Until February 24, Artur was just a student and wrote poetry, even publishing his own collection "Wohnhein Nr. 6". Now Arthur is at war. He protects the motherland.

A woman is a writer, volunteer and doctor. A woman is a teacher, an artist and avenger. A woman is a human rights defender and an innovator. A woman is a scientist. A woman is a singer and an actress. A woman is a postman. Ultimately a woman is a warrior.

“We are faced with a choice between slavery and freedom. We choose freedom!" said Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in the German Bundestag back in 1952. His words are to be understood in the context of the world situation between East and West at this time. It was about Germany's status back then. Which side of the Iron Curtain does Germany want to be on? On February 27, 2023 and 71 years after Adenauer's words, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation chose this sentence for a packed program of events in the heart of Berlin.

Switzerland is known for its policy of neutrality, which means that it does not take sides in conflicts between other countries. However, this policy is not absolute, and there are several reasons why it is not considered to be pure neutrality. Especially in times like these, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has put a heavy toll on the whole concept of Western unity, and military aid for Ukraine is needed to defend a nation against its fascist aggressors, Switzerland remains hesitant about aiding a country in an emergency.

In the past four weeks, Russia has increasingly targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Including combined heat and power plants and water supply. The result is that large parts of the country are repeatedly cut off from electricity and water. In the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the supply of electricity and water is now rationed. Both are only available part of the time and people's fear of winter is palpable. The situation is similar in large parts of the country. How will it go on?

Dear readers, 

As most of you know, I have been writing about Russia’s military actions since the beginning of last fall.

The German federal government under the incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is still unable to deliver heavy weapons systems to Ukraine. More than 110 days after the start of the war in Ukraine still not one heavy weapon system from Germany arrived in Ukraine. One gets the impression that Germany is unwilling to provide a democratic state with the support it urgently needs.

Liane Bednarz travelled to Ukraine with the media network "Freedom Today" and its CEO Andreas Jürgens. There they met with Christian Gruber, who is working there as a volunteer and also as a war reporter. Together they travelled through the country and talked to Ukrainians on the ground. Here, Liane Bednarz describes her personal impressions during the first three days of the trip in Lviv in western Ukraine. 

Today is 100 days of war. 100 days as the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian army resist the attack of russia and defend our territory and freedom.

How do we hold up?