Mahi For Ukraine

Without accountability, there can be no justice. I was in Berlin this week to help share the story of two women who do the essential work of fighting for it. "The Cranes Call," a HiddenLight Productions documentary, follows Solomiia Stasiv and Anya Neistat as they join forces to uncover evidence of Russian human rights violations in Ukraine. These stories must be told. This work must continue. You can learn more and find out how to watch the film at thecranescallfilm.com. 

This decree from putin is another stage in russia’s ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing & genocide in the territories it has occupied since 2014. The claim that russian speakers were ever oppressed in Ukraine has always been a lie—a manufactured excuse to justify invasion. There has never been any credible evidence of such oppression, and anyone who looks at Ukraine objectively knows that russian-speakers have always been free to speak their language. In reality, it is russia that has been actively erasing Ukrainian identity in occupied territories for over a decade. This new deportation order follows a pattern that has already played out in Crimea & the parts of Donbas that russia has controlled since 2014. Ukrainians in these areas have faced systematic repression: • Torture & Imprisonment: Anyone expressing pro-Ukrainian sentiment is at risk of arrest, beatings, or worse. Many activists, journalists & community leaders have been abducted, tortured or killed. • Filtration Camps: These have been used to detain, interrogate & forcibly ‘process’ civilians, determining who is allowed to remain & who will be sent to russia, imprisoned or worse. • Re-education & Indoctrination: Ukrainian children in occupied areas are forced into russian schools, where they are taught russian history & propaganda, told that Ukraine does not exist as a real country. • Forcible Passportisation: Ukrainians are forced to take russian passports or face punishment, exclusion or deportation. • Forced Deportation & Resettlement: Ukrainians, incl. children, have been deported deep into russia, where many are placed with russian families & forcibly ‘Russified’. • Destruction of Ukrainian Culture: Ukrainian-language books have been banned or burned, cultural sites have been destroyed & even the use of the Ukrainian language has been criminalised. With this latest decree, putin is making it official: Ukrainians who refuse to take russian citizenship must leave or be expelled. This is a blatant act of ethnic cleansing. By systematically removing Ukrainians, russia is attempting to create a new ‘reality’ in which it can later claim that the population of these regions ‘chose’ to be part of russia. Once they have erased as much Ukrainian identity as possible (through fear, coercion & outright removal) they hold sham referendums to claim legitimacy. This is exactly what happened in Crimea & parts of Donbas before, and now it is happening in occupied territories captured after 2022. This is not just a violation of human rights—it is genocide. russia is deliberately trying to erase the Ukrainian people from these territories, replacing them with russians or those who will submit to its rule. This is not a new strategy - it mirrors the tactics used by the soviet regime in the 1930s, incl.the Holodomor- also a targeted attempt to break Ukrainian resistance & identity. What putin is doing is not subtle. It is happening in plain sight. The world cannot afford to look away

“If Russia does not plan to invade its neighbors again, it is unclear why it should not accept security guarantees.” — Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy This raises a fundamental question: why is it that the aggressor’s so-called “security concerns” are given weight in international discussions, while the legitimate security concerns of its victims are ignored? If russia truly wants peace, why is it concerned with Ukraine’s security arrangements? Why does it insist that Ukraine must be disarmed, while russia itself continues to militarise at an accelerating pace? Ukraine has never attacked russia. It is russia that launched a war of aggression, has continuously expanded its military capabilities, and has openly threatened not only Ukraine but other neighboring countries. If russia claims to seek stability, will it also commit to demilitarisation? Will it withdraw its troops from illegally occupied Ukrainian territories? None of russia’s demands align with peace. They are all conditions designed to weaken Ukraine, allowing russia to regroup and strike again. Ukraine’s conditions, by contrast, are logical and focused on real, lasting security: ensuring its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and accountability for war crimes. These are foundational principles for peace. russia’s ultimatums, on the other hand, revolve around maintaining its ability to continue waging war—demanding that Ukraine surrender land, sovereignty, and the right to self-defense, all while russia retains the capacity to attack again at will. If russia wasn’t waging an imperial war, if it were truly interested in peace, it would not insist on keeping illegally occupied Ukrainian territories. It would not object to security guarantees that would prevent further aggression. It would not demand that Ukraine remain vulnerable while maintaining its own unchecked military capabilities. So the question remains: why are russia’s so-called “security concerns” treated as legitimate, when everything about its actions proves that it is not seeking peace, but further conquest? Why are Ukraine’s actual security needs, based on lived experience, the realities of invasion, and the need to prevent future war, not given the same weight? The only logical conclusion is that russia’s demands are not about peace at all. They are about ensuring that russia retains the ability to dominate and destroy. And that is precisely why they must not be accepted. #russiaisaterroriststate #standinukraine #standforjustpeace #peacenotappeasement Kate Turska, MNZM 🇺🇦

“Russia’s latest demands in the peace talks make it clear: they are not seeking peace, but capitulation… Vladimir Putin speaks about the “root causes of this war”, but there is no ambiguity about what it is – Russia’s imperial ambition… While Russia manipulates the concept of peace to legitimise its conquests... Ukraine takes steps toward real peace, while Russia takes steps toward colonisation…” Read this Opinion piece by our Spokesperson Kate Turska, MNZM 🇺🇦 https://lnkd.in/g_nAvcaG

RNZ published an article from Reuters, which we find problematic here’s why. In coverage of russia’s repeated claims about a ceasefire and supposed “peace” talks, it’s crucial to avoid the temptation to treat this as a symmetrical conflict between two equal parties. That’s not journalism - it’s a distortion of reality. When russian spokespeople suddenly profess an interest in negotiations, that’s not actually a story about good-faith peace efforts. It’s part of the larger narrative of how russia has manipulated global perception since it invaded Ukraine in 2014. By placing russian pronouncements on the same footing as Ukrainian statements, media outlets mislead readers into thinking these are two equally reliable sources. Yet we know russia has lied consistently about its intentions and actions, while Ukraine’s statements have largely been borne out by facts. If a russian official must be quoted, it’s vital to note that they have repeatedly denied or distorted well-documented realities of this war. Readers coming into the story halfway need this context to understand why the russian version of events should be approached with deep skepticism. It’s also important to remember that russia’s internal propaganda is entirely different from what it says for foreign audiences. Domestically, the kremlin speaks openly of destroying Ukraine’s sovereignty and identity. Internationally, it pretends to be the victim, casting itself as a seeker of “peace.” That disconnect needs to be highlighted, or readers will be led to believe that russia truly wants a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, when in fact it has a long history of using ceasefires to regroup and prolong its aggression. When media coverage starts by framing this as a matter of “both sides,” it trains the audience to see an evenly balanced disagreement rather than an unprovoked invasion and occupation. In reality, russia still controls territories it seized through force, which is a vital fact that must shape how we interpret its offers of “peace.” This war didn’t begin with a ceasefire proposal - it began with russia’s ongoing, brutal aggression including countless war crimes. And its causes must be made clear. Ultimately, real objectivity means providing readers with the background and context they need—reminding them that russia’s claims about a ceasefire exist in a larger pattern of lies, war crimes, and territorial conquest. That’s the only way to help the public see beyond the simplistic “two sides” narrative and grasp what’s truly happening on the ground. RNZ & NZ media in general should do better!

While in Wellington, I met with His Excellency Patryk Błaszczak the newly appointed Head of Mission of the Republic of Poland, to discuss advocacy for Ukraine. Patryk is a strong supporter of Ukraine, and I appreciate his commitment to reinforcing Ukraine’s message in the Global South and advocating for New Zealand’s continued support. 💙💛🙏🏻 🇵🇱

🇺🇦🇺🇸 Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the outcomes of Ukraine-U.S. negotiations in Saudi Arabia: 💬 "The joint statement mentions a temporary ceasefire, limited to 30 days, and only if mutually agreed upon by Russia. The U.S. side will now engage with the Russians to determine their willingness – or unwillingness – to end the war. Why is this specific type of temporary ceasefire important? Because it is by no means about freezing the conflict. It is solely an attempt to begin the path toward ending the war in a just manner. It is also a step that clearly shows who is truly interested in peace."

Auckland stands with Ukraine! Every Sunday until victory 💙💛💪🏻🇳🇿

Тарас Шевченко: The Voice of Ukraine’s Freedom 💙 💛 Today, on the birthday of Taras Shevchenko, we honor the poet, artist, and national symbol who gave Ukraine its voice in the 19th century. He wrote of freedom, justice, and Ukrainian identity at a time when our nation was being erased by the russian empire. His words became a call to resist—and they remain just as powerful today. The enemy is the same. Then and now, russia seeks to destroy Ukraine, to break our spirit, to rewrite our history. But just as Shevchenko’s poetry lived on despite tsarist oppression, Ukraine endures despite invasion and war. His words remind us of our strength: "Борітеся — поборете! Вам Бог помагає!" "Fight—and you shall overcome! God helps you!" Ukraine has withstood centuries of oppression. We have survived bans on our language, deportations, famines, and wars. And yet, we are here. We are fighting. We will overcome. Shevchenko’s Ukraine was a land longing for freedom. Our Ukraine is a nation that fights for it—and wins.

The world must face the truth: Russia is committing genocide against Ukraine. Its recent attacks make it clear – Russia’s true goal is not peace but eliminating Ukrainians. Rafał Lemkin, who coined the term “genocide”, once warned: “Genocide is so easy to commit because people don’t believe it until after it happens”. This is exactly what Russia has done in Ukraine today. The world must take bold steps to ensure Russia and its war criminals face justice. A just and lasting peace for Ukraine should be based on the full accountability of Russia.