Civil Society is Ukraine’s Secret Weapon Against Russia

WSJ ^ | 4 April 2022 | Jillian Kay Melchior

[DUMBGRUNT]

How has Ukraine stood its ground against Russia’s larger force? Part of the answer is that the smaller country has a strong civil society. Russia has deliberately slaughtered Ukrainian civilians, including by bombing apartment buildings, medical facilities and shelters where children sought refuge. Ukrainians responded with volunteer efforts that have made important contributions to the country’s defense.

The High Professional and Technical College in Vynohradiv usually produces electricians, plumbers and other skilled workers. But since war broke out, it has served as a small factory, churning out defensive equipment.

In early March, students welded together “hedgehogs”—heavy barriers that look like toy jacks and can block tanks. The week I visited, teachers were recycling leaf springs from cars into plates for bulletproof vests.

In late March, Ukrainian celebrity chef Ievgen Klopotenko, 35, opened Inshi, his newest restaurant, in Lviv. There are two menus: one for paying customers and another with a “chef’s dish for the people who cannot pay,” he says. “You want to still feel human.” Exhausted refugees can enjoy a thoughtfully prepared sit-down meal. Mr. Klopotenko says the restaurant will also enable him to create jobs and pay taxes to support the Ukrainian government.

...Ukrainians have spent the past eight years strengthening their ability to govern themselves, and a vibrant civil society is proving to be a significant advantage in the war against Russia.

[DUMBGRUNT]

From comments:

"Ukraine's advantage comes from seeing what life under Russian rule looks like. They would rather die than go back to that, as they are demonstrating. And the Russian military is noticing this and wondering why they are fighting for Putin."

FULL TXT: https://archive.ph/KSJr6

[DUMBGRUNT]

PING

[PGR88]

Ukrainians have spent the past eight years strengthening their ability to govern themselves,

LOL. The WSJ propaganda is off-the-charts. Ukraine has been a plaything of corrupt Russian Oligarchs, Putin, Ukrainian Oligarchs, mafia crime gangs, George Soros, Corrupt children of American politicians, and the CIA for the last 25 years.

The country has no agency or sense of itself. Just because the UN recognizes its borders doesn't make it an independent or functioning country.

[freespirit2012]

Yea, is like the 4th most corrupt country in the world.

[goodnesswins]

You forgot the American Oligarchs!

[Mariner]

“How has Ukraine stood its ground against Russia’s larger force?”

Easy.

Russia’s tactical networks were compromised weeks before the invasion by US/NATO special operators.

Ukraine has known every plan, every move, every problem and every intent.

That and the thousands of sophisticated man-portable weapons.

It has nothing to do with gallantry or determination.

[BenLurkin]

“Civil Society” in modern parlance equates to global authoritarianism.

A cadre of Jacinda Ardern types running the world.

[fireman15]

LOL. The WSJ propaganda is off-the-charts.

The WSJ is definitely working overtime to promote the narrative. This is more pure puff typical of the coverage we are getting day after day about this conflict. In other words it is a little interesting to read as long as you keep in mind that it is mostly BS

Our community has been flooded with Russians and Ukrainians for the last 40 or so years. They typically go to the same churches and hangouts and are basically indistinguishable from one another. I prefer not to purchase a used car from one of them because of painful experience, but other than that they are good citizens whose children mix in well and do well in our society.

https://archive.ph/KSJr6

[T.B. Yoits]

So..."Civil Society" are code words for Crime Syndicate.

[Boogieman]

“They typically go to the same churches and hangouts and are basically indistinguishable from one another.”

Sure, and to a Chinaman, the English and Scots are probably indistinguishable. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t very real differences and historical grudges between the two people that an outsider might not pick up on.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”The WSJ propaganda is off-the-charts.”

PLS lead us to your oracle so we might view the straight dope.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”Russia’s tactical networks were compromised weeks before the invasion by US/NATO special operators.”

I would like to believe that!

But in the hall of mirrors, it cannot be determined.

[PGR88]

PLS lead us to your oracle so we might view the straight dope.

Try CNN - you will like it.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”Try CNN - you will like it.”

Are you sure you are on the forum, you think you are on?

[fireman15]

Good point, but we come into personal contact with many and have close relationships with some. It is more like the difference between Norwegians and Swedes.

[Harpotoo]

Yeah right behind US!

[Boogieman]

Yeah, and if you told a Norwegian and a Swede that they were just about the same, they’d probably want to fight you. Well, maybe not with a Norwegian. But a Swede and a Dane, yeah you would be in trouble.

[fireman15]

I am half Norwegian and did a lot of volunteering at multi-level care facility and retirement center sponsored by the Covenant Church. I can still do one heck of a good impression of Stan Boreson. We have not got many Danes around here... different animal. The rivalry between Swedes and Norwegians is similar to that between Russians and Ukrainians in this country during normal times. They have a similar heritage and are almost all here for greater economic prosperity and to escape repressive regimes.

Currently, the older folks seem to be getting along about the same as normal, but the young people ae more influenced by the massive amount of propaganda we are all subjected to daily.

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

Russian invasion destroyed Bibles in Irpen, Kiev region. Missions organization’s headquarters in Ukraine bombed, Bibles burned Piles of burned Bibles, charred walls and rubble were among the few things remaining of a missions organization’s field ministries headquarters near Kyiv, Ukraine, after it was bombed by Russian military force. Sergey Rakhuba, president of Mission Eurasia, requested prayer as his team continues to work with ministry partners inside and outside of Ukraine distributing food, Bibles and other needed materials to refugees and others impacted by the country’s Russia invasion. “Our hearts are broken and profoundly bleeding,” said Rakhuba. “It is devastating to see our field ministries [headquarters] … completely destroyed.” There are no words! Praying for Ukraine