To ask if most of us have forgotten about Ukraine

[BeaBachinasec]

The invasion was terrifying and dramatic. We admired the plucky Ukrainians defending their homeland against the mighty Russian bear.

And now? I'm not quite sure what's going on anymore and wonder if most of us have lost interest as the war has rumbled on relentlessly.

There's a whole topic on the conflict in the Middle East, nothing like that for Ukraine.

We have a Ukrainian lodger, and I am not sure how much he is worried about it himself to be honest. He travels home couple of times a year for extended periods of time, goes fishing, partying etc. His home is quite far from the front line, as it turned out.

I was wondering about the money they had given to them only last month too by Uk and US.
I hope it's helping them and going where it's needed.
It's not been on the news much lately other than this about the money.

Honestly? Simply don’t have capacity to worry about it.

I was horrified at the start for about a month then, product of the modern 24/7 news cycle that I am, I moved on to the next crisis.

@BeaBachinasec here's thread 48, thread 49 about to start (link will be near the end).
There are a substantial group of mumsnetters been discussing it since day one, and some of them extremely knowledgeable too. They are in chat. Posts virtually every day. No designated board because no-one ever asked for one. The conflict in the ME one was requested.
You are welcome to mosey on over.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5024628-ukraine-invasion-part-48?page=1

Yep, I have that feeling, too. The conflict is not ending anytime soon and I believe this will escalate whether we like it or not. Then people will worry again.

I agree, this thread series has been brilliant and very active.

You can’t have looked very hard OP, there is a long running and very informative Ukraine thread on here that others have tagged. Nobody there has given up on Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

The Ukraine war has faded from many people's awareness but it's not gone away.

More immediately for the UK and Europe, Russia is attacking with huge resources on the hybrid front - trying to spread disinformation (lies) and trying to influence people's opinions against Ukraine and for extreme right wing, or left wing (!) parties.

I've kept track to some degree.

Russians have interfered in Scottish elections. There was no government enquiry as to the Brexit campaign's influence from Russia, but Nigel Farage is pro-Putin.

The UK is under active attack, and not many people seem to realise it.

May 8th 24
Some 50,000 fake accounts were uncovered in Germany last year, and many of them were found spreading Russian fabrications about the war in Ukraine. And here is one of the most awful lies exposed by Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation. [Russia claimed that the Red Cross said Mariupolitans are harvesting organs from babies] this is from* *United24 Media

⚡️ UK to expel Russian defense attache for being 'undeclared military intelligence officer.' Speaking to parliament, Cleverly said the move was in response to an increase in malign activity from the Kremlin, both in the U.K. and across Europe. 09/05/24

Russia is increasingly using the TikTok social media platform to undermine Ukraine's morale and the legitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelensky, a senior Ukrainian official said in an interview with Bloomberg published on May 7. This is from Bloomberg, a well respected publication.

There are a LOT more.

There is something about Ukraine (or Russia's behaviour there/about it) on the World Service almost every day.

As another person who is still hosting then no I haven't forgotten.

@Catza that's odd. Ukrainian men who go home have to have special dispensation to leave the country again and they are tightening up the rules, not relaxing them.

Some wars go on for decades and they can't stay at the top of the news. Sadly this has always been the same.

Absolutely not!

I've been aware of that thread. However, it's one thread with a limited number of contributors as opposed to a busy topic on Israel/Palestine.

No-one in my RL talks about Ukraine anymore.

And I find it rather moving that you haven't given up on Ukraine.

Oh yeah, and Russia is plotting sabotage across Europe - from the The Financial Times. European intelligence agencies warn that Russia is planning violent sabotage acts across the continent, committing to perpetual conflict with the West

Plus trying to interfere in the US election.

Russia has also tried to create strife around Kate's recent illness, and has amplified the tensions with Muslim people in France.

Ukraine is where the Russian knife meets European flesh, but there's a tornado of malice behind that knife and it's not only aimed at Ukraine.

Isn't not giving up on Ukraine rather like enlightened self-interest really? Putin is as dangerous for democracy as Trump, and if he succeeds in destroying Ukraine he isn't going to stop there.

@BeaBachinasec I'm glad you're still aware and thinking of Ukraine!

Ukraine and the Middle East and the prospect of Trump getting back in are really scary flashpoints in the world :/

People did ask for a dedicated board when it all started (I think more as containment for the 12,000 'AIBU to be terrified of nuclear war' threads that were appearing daily at the time), but other people argued that it was too important of an issue to be pushed off the main boards. There was quite a heated debate over it in Site Stuff. I'm not sure why the decision on the Middle East conflict getting its own board ended up being different.

@BeaBachinasec thank you for your reply 🌷

I imagine a lot of people will be using fake foreign identities. I don't want to think about it too much.

Seems so. People just move onto the next thing constantly. Be something else next. I agree there should be a Ukraine board. This is more on our doorstep.

@JamSandle you are so right. This war is on our doorstep and it is getting closer by day. I wish politicians will wake up and fund our military and defence properly.

What is it you want people to do though? It’s out of our control.

Well, there’s plenty! Read about it and keep up to date - there are developments on a regular basis. Raise awareness. Consider taking a Ukrainian guest in. Write to your MP asking for their stance on defence. Challenge bots and misinformation. Champion Ukrainian culture and see what local events are going on. How’s that for starters?