Yesterday we heard the announcement that Russia declared war on Ukraine. Like many of you, although completely heartbroken to hear of what’s going on, I didn’t fully understand the situation and its history. Through my research I’ve compiled a list that can serve as a jumping off point for your own research on the subject.
This will serve as a living document, and I encourage you to share your news sources in the comments below for everyone else to explore. Knowledge is power. The more we know, the more power we have to put pressure on governments to fight for Ukraine.
Jump to Section
Current News Media
Aljazeera
Check Aljazeera for live updates.
FAIR
“FAIR, the national media watch group, has been offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986. We work to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints. As an anti-censorship organization, we expose neglected news stories and defend working journalists when they are muzzled. ”
Real News No Bullshit
This is an Instagram account that shares unbiased news without an agenda. I appreciate that they caption their content in a way that identifies potential misinformation.
Northern Provisions
They steadily release updated information to their Instagram account.
Shaun King
Shaun King is an independent news syndicate covering Ukraine and other world news.
Ukraine and Russia History
The Breach: Ukraine’s Territorial Integirty and the Budapest Memorandum – Wilson Center and Nuclear Proliferation International History Project
This brief outlines the challenges Ukraine has had in obtaining a security agreement that includes the US and Russia, and that the Budapest Memorandum is more of an assurance which has proven to not be a deterrent for Russia.
Winter On Fire – Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom – A 2015 Netflix documentary
This documentary was recommended to me as a good source of information for the history of Ukraine. To understand what is happening now, we need to understand the history that lead up to this point.
Sanctions
US sanctions on Russia affect defence, tech, finance – Aljazeera
This article explains the sanctions and includes a list of the US sanctions.
Why Sanctions on Russia Won’t Work – Time
This article breaks down who is most affected by sanctions, the affectiveness of sanctions in the past, as well as the reliance on Russian oil and energy.
Geography
Russia and the Curse of Geography – The Atlantic
This article does a fantastic job explaining the European Plain and Russia’s vulnerabilities, as well as the history of Russia’s changing borders.
Natural Resources
Are Ukraine’s vast natural resources a real reason behind Russia’s invasion? – Business Today
This article explains the natural resources in Ukraine, and why Ukraine joining NATO would threaten Europe’s reliance on Russian oil and energy.
Thinking Critically
You’ve Been Lied To About Why Ukraine War Began – Russel Brand
In this YouTube video, Russel Brand takes a critical look at the involvement in Ukraine of both Russia and the West leading up to the war. “I think that whenever you find yourself supporting the intentions of a particular group, in a way that lacks nuance, you are beholden to investigate your own position.”
Support Ukraine
Canadian-Ukraine Foundation
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established to coordinate, develop, organize, and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine.
CUF and UCC launched a public #HelpUkraineNow Campaign to raise $5 million to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia.
Thank you for taking the time to read through and learn about this utterly heartbreaking situation. I am not an expert, but I think it’s really important to educate ourselves and share information. If you know of a good source for information please share in the comments below for others to explore.
Ukraine Digital File Etsy Purchases
Support Ukraine individuals by purchasing their digital products on Etsy. It requires no new additional work for the sellers, and money goes directly to those Ukrainian individuals. There’s one particular seller, Prints Land, that has beautiful boho art prints. You can also find digital files that would be suitable for kid’s birthdays or other celebrations.
