Here i’ve collected almost all the misconceptions i’ve heard mostly from German leftists about this war and our relationship with russia in almost 2,5 years of living in Germany. These are not the all arguments, so i’ll keep adding them here. If you have more questions or disagreements, you are very well welcome to write them in the comments below please thank you very much. I’m always open for discussions.
But even if after reading all the arguments below (or if you don’t feel like reading them), you’re still not convinced that Ukraine has the right to military resistance, at the end I’ve listed several Ukrainian charities that serve different needs, including those of animals. Also in such case, you should speak loud and clear for sanctions against russia. And if you decide to donate (please do, at least a euro or two!), please just say in the comments like “donated/will donate to…”. Let me know that my efforts here are not in vain.
How to read this very long-read? The idea is that you have it bookmarked and read different pieces from time to time. For your convenience I’ve made a table of contents below.
Disclaimer – some of the conclusions do not represent views of our government, some of the leftists or liberals, or right-wing nationalists, or other groups. But they do represent views of many other groups of people in particular from my circle. After all, our society is democratic and pluralistic.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 1. MAKE PEACE
“Ukrainians need to learn civil resistance. Without weapons.”
Oh really? I wonder how… Do you really think that we are so stupid that we haven’t even tried any method of peaceful resistance? Or do you think that we’re just bloodthirsty and really want this war to continue just like russian propaganda is trying to show our military?
Just see this:
Young women giving flowers to the paramilitary troops in Ukraine during the Revolution of Dignity in 2013-14. Yes, at that moment it helped, Berkut didn’t shoot, but later over 100 activists were shot in Kyiv at the Maidan.
And then how do you suggest stopping missiles flying at our schools and children hospitals? Praying? Talking to them? Sure come do that! Easy for you to speak when it’s not your home on fire.
Don’t give Ukraine weapons because this is only escalating the conflict
If Ukraine stops fighting there will be no Ukraine. If russia stops fighting, there will be free Ukraine.
Ukraine is the frontier of a European war. Russia doesn’t plan to stop in Ukraine. They’ve said it numerous times explicitly.
Remember the beginning of WWII? First Germany annexed a part of Czechia, then the whole of Poland. Then it continued with France and Denmark. Great Britain used the time to rearm massively, otherwise Nazi Germany would have invaded there too. France and Poland had also great pacifist moods before their fall by Germany. Then there were concentration camps.
Ukraine should make a peace agreement with russia
Sure, after russian troops leave Ukraine and agree to never come back. Also to pay reparations and, of course, to give back all of our prisoners and kidnapped children.
We have tried to make numerous agreements with russia. Starting with Budapest Memorandum in 1994. Back then Ukraine gave up its nukes, dispersed the army because the US, the UK and russia promised to protect our borders. Then there were a few Minsk agreements attempting to end the war in Donbas. Forced upon us by Europe and of course russia. Broken by russia. But the worst has been the green corridors for the civilians to leave safely. Many times russians started shooting in the back of the people trying to leave in their cars.
But what happens if we were to agree on the terms of russia (which basically are to give up the occupied territories, and demilitarize Ukraine)? Who will guarantee our security and peace on our lands? Will you personally promise to defend us from yet another russian attack? Most probable scenario is that if ever russia stops actively attacking Ukrainian lands and people, the world will say “the war is over, why would we send weapons to you?”. Meanwhile russia would get better equipped, get more cannon fodder trafficked from Africa, India, Nepal, Cuba and other developing countries, learn their lessons and change strategies. Also, as long as it’s a hybrid war, they will make sure that the world doesn’t want to send us weapons. We have made many peace agreements with russia starting with Budapest memorandum in 1994 and ending with green corridors for civilians during the full scale war. And in between there were Minsk agreements
The territories occupied by russia should already stay with russia.
Hitler also took many territories. There are people who are waiting for Ukraine to take them back. These are not just territories, there are people on them. I have heard and read many stories from the occupied territories. And everyone describes their experience as survival, life in constant fear, no laws work there, russians kidnap Ukrainian children, capture Ukrainian men and make them fight against Ukraine, they can kill you or capture you into a torture room just because they didn’t like the way you’ve looked at them.
https://suspilne.media/751739-life-stopped-life-constant-fear-mariupol-residents-daily-life-occupation/
Besides, russia wants to build 9 damps in Donbas.
CHAPTER 2. PUTIN’S WAR
This is Putin’s war, normal russians are against it
Ordinary russians work at factories producing weapons and doing the logistics.
Ordinary russians work in industry extracting oil and gas or selling it abroad.
Busses full of ordinary russians came to Donbas and Krym in 2013 together with the military to show that the region is for russia.
Ordinary russians joined the army and came to Ukraine looting, shooting, raping, destroying everything alive. Their ordinary wives and mothers either approve it or say nothing to it. (Check out intercepted calls of russian military back home, eng subtittles)
Ordinary russians drive the tanks.
Ordinary russians work as Forward Air Controllers (see below) targeting missiles at Ukrainian children hospitals and schools.
The Siberian grannies knit socks for their boys. In fact, most of the privates are not ethnic russians, but rather indigenous people from Siberia, Chechnya and Ural region who are lower class in russian racist society.
Ordinary Germans worked in Auschwitz . (see above) After the World War II it also was only the Nazis who did the crimes, the normal German population had nothing to do with the war. Later, of course, it turned out that an incredible number of Germans were very much behind the fascist ideology and acted accordingly.
I believe that a (political) leader is a product of the system, of the society. Were there no putin, someone else would have led the war against Ukraine. Were there no hitler, someone else would have led World War II. Perhaps chosen a different strategy but the goal and methods would likely be the same.
There are good russians against putin and we should listen to them and collaborate with them
Why should anyone listen to and collaborate with russians? They have been speaking for Ukraine and other countries they’ve conquered for too long. Now it’s our time to speak. Listen to what Ukrainians have to say, read Ukrainian history written by Ukrainians or pro-Ukrainians (like Timothy Snyder) Being in opposition to putin doesn’t mean being against the war. For all we know, all the russian politicians have one goal in mind – Make Russia Great Again. And without it’s colonies, in particular Ukraine, it’s not that great.
A lot of russians are against “this war” (are they for other wars then?), they say “war is bad” (of course it is), “we don’t want no war” (and who does actually? Some politicians and warlords also some “normal” people who just like killing and violence). The question is “what are you doing to stop it?” And this is where they can tell you 1001 tales why they can’t do anything.
Cancelling russian culture and sports is very bad. Culture and sports are out of politics
Oh really? What about killing for speaking Ukrainian, for having tattoos with Ukrainian symbols? What about banning Ukrainian language and literature since 1876? What about killing our culture activists or making them serve the Party? What about burning our books on the occupied territories?
As for russian classical culture, it’s imperialistic. The call it “Great russian culture”. Is it really that great, greater than English, Ukrainian, Japanese, Brazilian or any other? And because of russian, other cultures didn’t develop because even after Ukraine got it’s independence, russian culture was still dominant in Ukraine untill 2014. As for russian modern culture, the cultural products are made by russians who 1) pay taxes in russia 2) are ordinary russians (go to “good russians” and “putin’s war”) 3) it still has subtle russian propaganda
Russia tends to appropriate a lot of Ukrainian culture. And in Soviet Union the most famous films were plagiarized, the same goes with Soviet music.
A lot of Ukrainian sportspeople who could have participated in the international competitions were killed.
And about Olympics, at first Ukraine wanted to boycott it altogether for its policy “sport is out of politics”. But then a compromise was found – russians can take part as neutrals (without their national symbols). For that a lot of hate was thrown at the IOC. Another condition for accepting these “good Russians” was that they did not support Putin’s war. But the admitted sportsmen seem to have absolutely nothing against this or any other Russian war.
Then there’s ESC also claiming to be apolitical. Remember the scandals around this year’s contest?
Besides, you as an activist should know that there’s nothing out of politics, our life is politics.
It’s hard, nearly impossible to be an activist in the dictatorship
We, Ukrainians know that. For nearly a century the whole Ukraine was a colony of russia but people still tried to be active and resist. We have had numerous revolutions before our independence, our diaspora has always been active.
And also there are examples of citizens of other countries who being under the dictatorship still aren’t afraid to go out in masses to the streets. Take Bangladesh – they have managed to kick out their dictator who was ruling since 2009. Several hundred people died in that revolution but they did it! And take Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity a.k.a. Maidan, There were military, there were shootings but people hadn’t left Maidan (a city square) still instead the russian puppet president had.
And russians did go out on demonstrations against blackouts in the regions bordering Ukrainian. They became even more against “this war” when it came closer to their homes.
But ok, let’s assume it is indeed impossible to go on a strike or anything in russia itself. But what about emigration then? What do they do to help Ukraine win? If you ask them that, you’ll hear 13 reasons why they can’t. If you start giving them alternative ways, they will keep refusing them.
A dialogue i had with one such “good russian ” in Germany:
her: I’m against this war, against putin
me: Ok, do you understand that Ukraine has to win?
her: Yes-yes, of course.
me: And what are doing for that to happen?
her: I help Ukrainians here.
me: Yeah, that’s nice but that’s not helping us to win. Do you donate to ZSU?
her: What?
me: ZSU – Ukrainian Armed Forces.
her: Well, i can’t because i have russian passport and i’m being watched.
me: Well, you can give cash to Ukrainians collecting donations.
her: But i don’t have a job
me: Yeah, not all the Ukrainians who donate have a job. But Ok, i got it, good bye.
The conclusions many Ukrainians make from all this is that most of russians who are against the war just want to live their lives as usual. They’re not against the war because they believe it’s horrible what their fellow citizens are doing. Rather because they don’t want all this discomfort connected with this war – like foreign businesses leaving the country, huge inflation, their men coming back dead or without limbs etc.
I must say, there are of course russians, who understand that russia is an empire and it must be stopped, they do realize their responsibility being citizens of the country. So they talk about it loud and clear. There are also russians who came to fight for Ukraine, there are partisans in russia itself blowing up railway supplies of weapons or fuels. They do deserve respect. But let’s not make heroes out of them because it’s shifting the focus of the narrative from Ukraine to russia again. And remember whose country started this war.
Anti-war russian activists need to have the right to have refuge in Europe, in particular Germany
No EU country has (unfortunately) ever forbidden russian citizens from entering. In Germany they don’t even have to go to a refugee camps unlike Ukrainians who come here now. There was an idea to create more obstacles for russians to come here but it hasn’t been implemented so far. In Finland they have only closed the borders with russia.
CHAPTER 3. THE NAZI IN UKRAINE
There are Nazi in Ukraine
Of course. But unlike Germany, they don’t have any political power. Also it is wrong to call all Ukrainian nationalists Nazi. Many of the leftivists argue that nationalism and nations should be rejected. Nation means that people who do not belong to the “German people” are excluded. In russia it is “our nation is better than others.” For Germany, however, it must also be said that two terrible world wars started from the German nation. This is nationalism of the colonial states
Ukraine, on the other hand, has never invaded foreign lands and has long been ruled, divided and destroyed by others. Ukrainians finally want to be an independent and self-determined nation. This is the nationalism of the (former) colonies, of the metropoly like Ukraine, like the countries of Central Asia, Chechnya, the Caucasus countries, the Baltic states, Armenia, Croatia, Albania, and others.
There are Nazi in Ukrainian army
Yes, of course but not as a military formation. We do have formations of vegans, feminists, LGBTQ+, anarchists, vegan anarchist (read their Manifesto), Belorussians, Russians and other international formations. An army is just a slice of the society.
Azov battalion are Nazi
For the past 9 years, it is forbidden for Azov fighters to use any Nazi and fascist symbols on badges, tattoos, clothing, flags, etc. There were some individuals with Neo-Nazi background and Far Right views among the founders of The Azov Battalion in the very beginning in 2014. “Azov is a regular military unit subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Its commanders and fighters individually may have personal political views, but as an armed unit, Azov is part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces system.” It is necessary to clearly distinguish between Azov and political projects linked to its first commander. And there are Jews among them who are blessed be the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine. Please read more detailed explanations here https://www.azovcontrafake.com/.
CHAPTER 4. RUSSIA HAD TO START THE WAR
Russia has attacked Ukraine because of NATO
The wrong sequence of the events. First russia has attacked Ukraine, then countries bordering russia started to seek protection in nato. Those countries have suffered a lot from “russkiy mir” too (”russian world and peace” – double meaning of the word “mir”) and they don’t want it again that’s why they’ve joined NATO and are strengthening their military power. Russia has attacked Ukraine, because it wanted to, because it could. So first they decided to attack and then they started making up lies why they did it. The iconic one is because there are (NATO) bio labs with bio weapons in Ukraine. This has produced many memes showing military with kittens, puppies and other animals and calling them biological weapons.
Russia is fighting the US/NATO
Wrong direction, they should turn the map around and you too, if you believe this BS. If the US were their nr. 1 enemy, why then did they start wars in Chechnya, Syria, Afghanistan, Finland, Japan, why did they annex Transdnistria, Abhasia, Krym? Why then did they violently suppress peaceful protests in Belarus, in Kasahstan and dragged non-russian ethnicity people into those wars? But they have never attacked the US itself or a NATO member country.
CHAPTER 5. HOW TO HELP UKRAINE
Donate
https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate-en – mostly military equipment foundation
https://www.hospitallers.life/needs-hospitallers — medical equipment
https://uanimals.org/en/how-to-help/ – animal rescue
https://www.solidaritycollectives.org/en/main-page-english/ — a leftist collective
https://www.uwvm.org.ua/en/ – women in military foundation
Learn more
https://online.yale.edu/courses/making-modern-ukraine by Timothy Snyder (also available on podcast platforms as audio)
https://www.youtube.com/@UkrainianTorontoTelevision – Ukrainians in diaspora talking about Ukraine, often with humor and frustration
https://www.youtube.com/@UkrainerinEnglish – Ukrainier is a media project about Ukranians. So it tells stories of ordinary Ukrainians
https://www.youtube.com/@UATVEnglish – government supported channel aiming to counter russian propaganda
A documentary cycle “Great russian Lies” about russian culutre and history that are obviously apolitical
https://takflix.com – a media library of Ukrainian film of various periods. A lot of them have English subtitles. Fewer are allowed outside of Ukraine, so I suggest using a vpn.
https://commons.com.ua/en/ – a left-wing Ukrainian media about economy, politics, history and culture
https://texty.org.ua/tag/eng/ – a decent Ukrainian media
https://ukraineworld.org – a multilingual media about Ukraine, its politics, culture, history, and struggle, to the international audiences
https://hromadske.ua/en – another decent Ukrainian meadia
Spread the information
Dare to disagree with those who don’t believe Ukrainian narratives, ask questions, listen to Ukrainian activists.
Connect with local Ukrainian community and help them out with their projects, volunteer to help organize the demonstrations. At least go to as many as possible Ukrainian demonstrations and invite other locals to do the same. We see you all and are always happy about it.
Slava Ukraini!
If you believe, you have better arguments, or just want to add to my argument, please write it in the comments below
To be updated