Thank you, guys. Since I posted my list, the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre has released a very similar but much more eloquent and comprehensive list
found here. This has even more charities, especially specifically military ones, so I highly encourage you check it out.
A quick roundup of events as far as I have been able to collate them from news sites and social media:
- Russian troops are trying to encircle Kyiv, our capital city, and have been seen in residential districts.
- Russia has lost 450 troops (according to the Defence Secretary of the UK). Ukraine has lost 137 troops and civilians.
- 13 of those troops were border guards on a small island known as Snake Island in the Black Sea. Their last words are NSFW but legendary.
Source- Russia has failed to take any of their major targets on the first day.
- The ministry of defence of Ukraine is encouraging people to use guerrilla warfare and fight that. I have yet to see if people have taken up that offer, but I am certain they will.
- For a comedian with no prior political experience, our crappy president is handling things like a champ. He is staying, giving speeches, boosting morale, asking for help from foreign powers, overall showing a ton of courage.
- Ukrainian forces have retaken a critical airport west of Kyiv and are holding. Russian forces now say they have retaken it, but no independent confirmation has come out yet.
- The western powers have introduced sanctions. I do not have time to go in to them in detail, or break down what they are by country, but they are a good first step. I hope they follow on from it and follow through with enforcement.
- But the Russian economy has already tanked due to this.
- There have also been anti-war protests in Russia, which while I doubt the effectiveness of, are heartening.
- There are rumours that the first flying ace of the 21st century, with six confirmed kills, is a Ukrainian fighter nicknamed "the ghost of Kyiv." Sadly, this is probably false, so don't fall for it, even if it kicks butt. A good example of how even positive misinformation is harmful.
- My grandparents are alright for now. But there are troop movements around my home city.
Long story short: WE. ARE. HOLDING. Do not let anybody tell you otherwise. Russian forces may look bigger and stronger and are on the offensive, but my homeland is giving as good as it is taking. The Russian army is a paper tiger: they are made up of underpaid, badly abused conscripts. The Ukrainian army, while being unable to claim better pay, are fighting for their lives and their freedom. Morale is a big factor. And historically, all Russia has had are numbers. When going against smaller and more poorly equipped forces than themselves (Finland, Chechnya, Georgia), they have suffered humiliating losses. Every time.
There is a legend that in 1676, the Sultan Mehmed IV sent a letter to the Zaporozhian cossacks of Ukraine asking them to surrender and submit to his rule. The cossacks replied with a long string of profanities and insults. It's detailed in a very famous (albeit Russian) painting (
Wikipedia link) of which a second version resides in my hometown. I'm thinking about that legend a lot right now.
If people want, I would gladly give a historical breakdown of Russian wars versus Ukrainian courage and urge for independence in the face of overwhelming odds. The TL;DR version of that is: Russia is not good at war, they only win due to numbers. Meanwhile, Ukraine has always had an independent streak, even when beaten.
There will be no surrender. Just like on Snake Island: even when we know the odds are impossible, Ukraine would rather go out with a spit in the face to the foe.
Glory to Ukraine.
Glory to the heroes.
Feel free to circulate any of what I post.
EDIT: Also feel the need to comment on one news story in particular:
'Don't use Ireland to justify the unjustifiable,' Russia toldTell me you don't know Irish history without saying you don't know Irish history. Like Ukraine, Ireland is also a proud country with a terrible neighbour and a history of struggling to assert their independence. Also the whole issue of a man-made famine caused by said terrible neighbour. Ireland and Ukraine have a lot of history in common, and none if it looks good on Russia. At least now Britain is...more chill towards Ireland (your mileage may vary here) whilst Russia is...this.