I have found myself having a reaction of mega eye roll to all the two-year anniversary flag waving, candle lighting, photos of leaders big and small with Ukrainian children holding flowers. Every time I see a show for the cameras I want to scream send them ammunition and make sure people have enough to eat. But that is why I do what I do and they are in politics. It is indeed a big day on the calendar today, and I came across this Ukrainian ambulance completely by accident when I popped into the city center quickly today to do something banal — help my youngest buy a new pair of jeans. This photo is a stark reminder (one of the best I can think of, frankly) of the tragedy that is unfolding just a day’s drive from many European capitals.
I don’t have the words nor the emotional energy to summarise what these last two years have felt like, so today I would like to simply share with you some of what I think are the best reports I have read in recent days on this topic.
First, a thread by a wonderful young woman I had the please to meet early on in all of this. Jenia and others like her have been such a support as those of us who fell into an unexpected role of volunteer advisor have tried to live up to the title with grace and patience. We often fail. But we try.
It has not gone unnoticed that one political party in Austria has really tried, and especially in recent weeks, to call bullshit on the status quo here in terms of this country’s relations with Russia and treatment of those who seek safety from war here. Thank you, Neos, and in particular, Stephanie Krisper, who was the first politician (and perhaps the only?) to visit me in the early days at the train station, and not only speak with me, but with Ukrainians who had recently arrived. Talk is cheap, actions speak for themselves. I will not name names but several, and by that I mean more than two, politicians from this party have helped Cards for Ukraine directly with personal donations. That means a heck of a lot more than empty thoughts and prayers over social media, which so many others churn up on repeat. Thank you.
Of all the anniversary pieces, I enjoyed this Guardian portrait of a 900 mile rail journey from Zaporozhzhia to Uzhgorod by Shaun Walker and photographer Kasia Strek the best. Really, it is such powerful, empathetic writing with stunning photography. It perfectly captures so much of the pain Ukraine has been through these past two years. Do stop here and read it.
This is a very important story by the FT about Ukraine’s kids and school, after years of covid restrictions and now two years of war, with so many still only able to learn “online” with all the side effects of being deprived of an in-class experience. The headline rightly refers to a “lost generation”. There are of course nowhere near the psychological resources to help these kids. Even for those in Europe, it has meant learning a new language, in many cases still trying to be in two schools at once — local school in the mornings and Ukrainian school online in the afternoons and evenings.
Today, Maryna, the mother in this story, whom I introduced to the AFP, send me this video of a local TV report about her daughter, Katya, aged 17. Katya’s German is phenomenal for only being here less than two years, and she (the whole family) is truly an inspiration.
The Economist asks is Europe ready to defend itself which is perhaps the most timely of all questions given how we see in real time and at great cost what happens when Ukraine isn’t given enough to defend itself. As I looked at all those photos today of world leaders arriving in Kyiv for the two year anniversary, I kept asking (in my head of course), what exactly did you bring with you? And as Russian economist Alexandra Prokopenko writes, “Russia is a big and resilient animal”. Do read her sober analysis of the state of the Russian economy two years into this war.
Below are some tweets from last night, when my family dinner was interrupted by a phone call about Ukrainian kids taken away from their mother and now in the custody of the city of Vienna for months. This too happens, and unfortunately I now know of several cases. I listened for a good 15 minutes and then said, I am so sorry, I really don’t know what to tell you other than raise some funds privately and hire a good lawyer who understands family custody law in Austria.
Today I got a frantic call from a Ukrainian in Poland, desperate to know if Austria is still open. Another sent me 10 pages of correspondence with the local utility company, asking me to tell her what it says. A normal Saturday, in other words. I have more Hofer cards to send out (thank you), primarily to to pensioners who keep sending me messages like this, explaining why they are out of funds.
So, as I said to a local print journalist who called me yesterday for an update, there are so many stories, both positive and negative. There are many families who have succeeded in building a “new normal”, found jobs, going to school, renting apartments, learning German. But there are so many who for a variety of reasons cannot work, cannot break out of the cycle of poverty which defines Grundversorgung, and I would not be surprised if many of them are now asking: how much will it cost to go home. Provided they still have a home which is safe to return to.
I personally go into this third year with low expectations and grateful to be able to still help in a small way those who are still in need. I will hit publish on this and address a few more envelopes. Thank you for your continued support over these past two years.
In closing, I would like to recommend this inspiring piece about Ukrainian young people aged 18-23. I think about them so much. It is they who will redefine and rebuild their country when this horrible war finally ends.
Today I am grateful for civil society, which has in so many ways compensated for the shortcomings of the “official” response. Hats off to all the unseen helpers and heroes. And of course, to the Ukrainian people, who have survived the past two years with incredible determination and perseverance. This woman said to the doctor, exasperated, “first war, we have to flee, and then…cancer?! how much can one person be expected to take?”. I can imagine that is a question so many families are asking themselves every day, particularly those who have lost love ones or whose relatives have come home from war with life-altering injuries. We really all cannot even imagine.