My wife and I are from Georgia. We lived through the 2008 war, so hearing people suggest that Ukraine should give up its territory for “peace” feels painfully familiar.

russia occupies around 125,000 km² of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova combined. That's roughly half the United Kingdom.

We built an interactive map where you can choose your own country and see what losing 20% of it would look like.

We hope it helps people understand that these aren't just lines on a map. They're people's homes, towns and lives.

You can try it here:
https://russianoccupation.netlify.app/

This post is for all my American friends who ask how we are holding up here.

If I were an American, I would be a Republican.

My wife and I have been married for 9 years. We were married in a church, we are raising two children, and we share right-center, conservative values. We believe in building, earning, and creating through hard work rather than redistributing what others have earned. So yes, I’m pretty sure I’d be a Republican.

But I am Ukrainian.

In 1994, when I was 12 years old, my country gave up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal: roughly 1,900 strategic nuclear warheads, up to 4,000 tactical nuclear weapons, 11 strategic bombers, 575 cruise missiles, nearly 200 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and vast amounts of heavy weaponry.

The United States and Russia convinced us to surrender all of it to Russia in exchange for security assurances signed by both nations. Ukraine kept its word.

Twenty years later, Russia invaded us for the first time, trampling on its guarantees. Meanwhile, the U.S. was in no rush to fully honor its commitments either.

But I am Ukrainian, and in 2014 I voluntarily went to the frontlines to defend my country, where I was wounded.

While recovering from my injuries, I started a small knife-manufacturing business because the Ukrainian Armed Forces didn't issue combat knives to soldiers. Later, after my father passed away, I inherited his farm - a plot of land with an apple orchard and a vineyard. I started making cider. I crafted my last batch in the fall of 2021, right before the full-scale invasion, and it was a cider that could easily rival the best Norman ciders in France.

I honestly couldn’t believe Russia would launch a full-scale war. But they did. From the very first hours, I took up arms again. My farm was occupied; later, I participated in liberating it. Today, that land is littered with landmines. I don’t even know if agriculture will ever be possible there again. My orchard is gone.

Yet despite everything, we hold the line. We have carried the fighting to the enemy's territory, striking key military targets with our drones. Of course, drone strikes can't fully compare to the devastation caused by Russia's ballistic missiles - but it’s a massive step forward, wouldn't you agree? When a nation without a major navy destroys the Russian Black Sea Fleet, that says something about our resolve.

Now, put yourself in my shoes. I’ve walked the path of this war from a simple volunteer assault troop to an officer in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am a civilian forced to be a soldier to defend my homeland. My children have been growing up without their father for years.

And then I hear:
“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much.”

Just the other day in Kharkiv region, a Russian missile killed a young mother and her baby in a stroller while they were walking in a park.

Oh, how many precious lives we could have saved - the lives of my countrymen, my friends, my relatives who perished under Russian strikes - if we hadn’t trusted those promises back in 1994 and kept our weapons.

I am a Christian with conservative values. My worldview is built on faith in Jesus Christ. My principles dictate keeping one's word. My actions mean daily hard work and protecting my family and country.

And I am convinced that those who pray in public, posture as conservatives, yet turn a blind eye to children being murdered are hypocrites desperately clinging to political power.

I am not an American, and I am not a Republican. But if I were, I would be ashamed to vote for politicians who betray their allies, abandon America's word, and compromise their own professed ideals.

But I am Ukrainian, it’s not my place to tell you how to vote. But I ask you: vote for leaders who possess the moral clarity and strength to GIVE US THE DAMN WEAPONS TO DEFEND OURSELVES!

We are not fighting for glory or someone’s political ambitions.
We are fighting for the sheer survival of the Ukrainian nation.

Slava Ukraini!

A short trip to the cemetery

source: https://bsky.app/profile/the-hedgehog.bsky.social/post/3mydk4mbln22s

A few blocks away from us were russian troops and street battles. We just left some sniper's line of sight. We used to get away with lots of stupid things back then. Peter had the soul of a poet. He died soon after giving this plant a chance to live, even if for a tiny bit longer. Maybe he's watering it nowadays in his own private garden up in the sky.
https://youtu.be/5oXMmdIjM0E

And this photo always reminds me about what the word "Humanity" supposed to mean.

Every night, the menace from the east comes for our land and our people. Our job is to keep the sky clean. A family in Kharkiv makes the 3d parts our unit depends on. They survived bombings and their children talk about it in this video: https://youtu.be/CGV9mrHHLrQ?si=4jkReN-BhuDcw4NV

We’ve raised $150. We need to raise $650 more. Donate here: Paypal [JaroslavC.rpu@gmail.com](mailto:JaroslavC.rpu@gmail.com) and please put a note Kharkiv

This is life and death for us and for them. And we will report all our purchases to mods and this community, as we always have done in the past.

- Commander Lys

Steve Witkoff to Putin: You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you, and I thank you again.

https://bsky.app/profile/antongerashchenko.bsky.social/post/3myexiaqitc26

USA reputation will never recover from that.

The russian orcs used a drone to strike the central park of Novaya Vodolaga in the Kharkiv region when there were many people there, including families with children, the Ministry of Internal Affairs says.

Two women and a baby died as a result of the impact.

At least 14 people were injured, including seven children.

source: https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3myfbbwjlb223