Dirt Monster 🇦🇺🇺🇦

Mykhailo Heraskevych, you raised an incredible son. His act made the whole world talk about Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia. We are all incredibly proud of @heraskevych

Conflict as an effective communication strategy. Right now, Vladyslav Heraskevych is giving a masterclass in how to use conflict effectively to achieve one’s goals — on a global scale. The International Olympic Committee’s soft, conciliatory stance toward russia has long been known. The likelihood that they would allow a Ukrainian athlete to compete wearing a helmet depicting athletes killed by russians was always close to zero. Let’s imagine the IOC had no objections and Heraskevych raced in the helmet. A skeleton run lasts less than a minute; the helmet would be clearly visible on screen for perhaps 30 seconds. There are four individual runs. Skeleton typically attracts 4–6% of the television audience - it’s not figure skating or ski jumping. Including television, online broadcasts, and social media, the total audience would likely be 80–120 million viewers. Commentators might briefly mention what was depicted on Heraskevych’s helmet - perhaps in a single sentence. Media outlets might have written about it once: “Ukrainian Olympian honors athletes killed in the war.” A good story, but not one that would create major resonance. Instead, the entirely predictable IOC ban helped Heraskevych trigger several waves of media coverage: •His intention to compete wearing the memorial helmet. •The IOC’s decision itself and the suggestion of a black armband instead. •Heraskevych’s press conference following the ban. •Comments from President Zelenskyy, reactions from Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee, and other athletes. •Heraskevych continuing to train in the helmet and stating that he will compete in it. •A broader debate about the IOC’s relevance and institutional ethics. Everything is here. David versus Goliath - an athlete versus a system. The broader story of banning russian athletes from competing under their national flag due to military aggression. The growing ineffectiveness of international institutions. And most importantly - the memorial helmet itself: a powerful visual symbol eagerly picked up by television channels, online outlets, and social media. Media outlets are now writing about the 22 athletes whose faces are depicted on the helmet - from 9-year-old Kyiv resident Viktoriia Ivashko to champions and Olympians killed in combat. Media coverage alone can be estimated at an additional 15 million people, and with social media included - up to 40 million. And this is no longer just a story for winter sports fans. It has become a large, multidimensional narrative with threads extending into geopolitics, ethics, institutional responsibility, and many other issues. Moreover, this is now a high-profile story, which means Heraskevych’s performance is unlikely to be cut from television broadcasts for commercials. Commentators will have more reason to tell the story in greater detail during the run itself. It will also have additional chances to enter the news cycle. As a result, the message “russia is killing Ukrainian athletes” will reach far more people. And that is already a major victory. This is what high-quality provocation looks like - conflict as an effective communication strategy. Rooted in sincerity, grounded in a clear moral position, emotionally powerful yet carefully thought through and brilliantly executed. The Olympic Games were created to strengthen peace in the world. And that means Vladyslav Heraskevych has already won. Gratitude to him and boundless respect. Source: translated and adopted from Yaryna Klyuchkovska

Violence causes more violence. All Australia needed, and needs to do, is to say that we will not support crimes against humanity, at any time, by anyone. No exceptions. Since we have not done so, not only has violence arrived on our shores, but is now increasingly being used against Australians. No one should be visiting Australia to promote or justify crimes against humanity. Or their inhumanity will quickly become ours. A process that is, sadly, well underway.

@TrishDoyleMP your government owns this. I can't vote for people who instigate this behaviour.

We will have social cohesion…if we have to beat it into you… x.com/Baumann_Mac/st…

Three years ago on this day. Soldier Oleksandr Matsiyevsky had his last cigarette at his surrounded dugout, shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” and was executed by Russians on the spot. He lives on with us all forever ever since that day. Absolute hero of our age.

@girafenstein @WarMonitor3 Who are you referring to as White Russians?

@WarMonitor3 When are the UAF going to hit Moscow and St Petersburg directly? It’s the only action that will shake the White Russians to the core

Massive Ukrainian drone attack on Russia ongoing right now.

Let’s get a few things straight. It’s not us. It’s you. Australia, and Australians, are really easy to get along with. But we don’t take gaslighting well, at all. Including attacks on Australia for fulfilling the most rudimentary duty to hold any country accountable to international law. You, the perpetrator, are wholly responsible for the impacts of your crimes. As a wanted war criminal leading a state alleged of genocide, the deliberate starvation of innocent children, found guilty of racial segregation and apartheid over many decades and of systematic attacks on the international legal system that we rely on. Our obligations to the international court extend to not promoting or supporting genocide or the discriminatory practices of apartheid, in any way. This includes the refusal of entry to any official, individual or group guilty of incitement, or supportive of ethnic cleansing or apartheid. So says the International Court of Justice. Whilst we are legally required to do more, Australians are, in fact, rightly taking pride in finally taking a stand against genocide, and apartheid. The surest way to secure a visa to Australia, and our famously loyal and valued friendship as a country and people is not to perpetrate, support, fund or promote genocide, ethnic cleansing, deliberate starvation or apartheid. Hope that helps.

@ChrisMinnsMP is a Premier for Karens.

So exciting to see the submissions for this year’s Sot Sot Storian, Vanuatu’s microfiction competition, now in its 2nd year. Sign language, who’d thought! Vanuatu writers, you continue to surprise and inspire 💪🏾🇻🇺 ⁦@BecVanuatu⁩ ⁦@AnnaNaupa⁩ dailypost.vu/news/sot-sot-s…

THIS IS ROAD RACING 🤩🤩

Europe, use frozen russian assets to arm Ukraine NOW!

I'm afraid last Friday's White House showdown was a pivotal moment in modern history—the beginning of the end of Pax Americana. We need to prepare for living in a world where Russia seeks to dominate Europe, where China dominates in the Pacific and Africa and also has an increasingly stronger role in South America, and where the United States is largely paralyzed as a great power amid severe domestic infighting due to the results of Donald Trump's catastrophic rule. Our mission as Ukrainians is to stay on the side of the free world among its leading military powers allied with other nations, shielding Europe in the east.

1/ "We have a moral code!" In Norway, a company refused to refuel US warships: the government was justified Owner and CEO of Haltbakk Bunkers, Gunnar Gran, told Norwegian publication Kystens Næringsli that the company is a private limited company and chooses its own clients. "We lost a lot of revenue. But we have a moral code. Now the US is excluded because of their behavior towards the Ukrainians. We support Ukraine. We have many Ukrainian employees, and we know how terribly this war affects them and their families. As you probably understand, not a single liter will be delivered until Trump stops it," he said. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik responded to the company's move, assuring that Oslo continues to provide the US Navy with all support and supplies. Haltbakk Bunkers' position was expressed on the company's Facebook page. facebook.com/haltbakkbunkers "Great credit to the President of Ukraine for remaining calm and collected, even though the US stabbed him in the back on TV. It made us sick

@ZelenskyyUa This is a photo of Sir Winston Churchill visiting the White House during the Second World War. He'd have been proud of you today Volodymyr.

Sean Hannity interviewed two of the greatest conmen and crooks who ever lived. These two human colostomy bags are currently the most loathed fuckwads in the world. 🤮🤮🤮👇

BREAKING🚨: Erdoğa just threw down the gauntlet—Turkey backs Ukraine’s FULL territorial integrity. Turkey ain’t just some side player in this. They control the Black Sea. They control NATO’s southern flank. And now, Erdoğan is making it clear: Russia’s land grab is not up for negotiation.

I hope people understand what we are seeing here. 1) Trump and Putin are preparing a common plan to dictate to Ukraine. 2) Ukraine will surprise them (at least Trump) by refusing. 3) The War will continue. 4) The role of Europe will be decisive.

A reminder: Vladimir Putin could end the war in Ukraine right now, just by ordering his soldiers to go home. No need for treaties or negotiations.

So, by the end of 2024, Russia (the world's second-largest army with the third-largest military budget) - failed to capture Donetsk Oblast after over 30 months of fighting; - failed to advance beyond a few kilometers in the border zone during its grand offensive on Kharkiv. - suffered a complete collapse in Syria; - lost control of part of Kursk Oblast to Ukrainian forces and has been unable to retake it (even after drawing North Korea into the war); - failed to plunge Ukraine into cold and darkness after three years of missile attacks and bombings; - captured about 2,800 km² of Ukrainian territory after a year of hostilities (which is slightly larger than the area of Luxembourg); - failed to stop Ukrainian strikes on airfields, oil depots, and ammunition warehouses; - is about to enter the fourth year of its blitzkrieg to take Kyiv in three days, with 600,000 killed and wounded, and the first signs that its economy cannot sustain the immense military expenditures, threatening stagflation; The battle of Ukraine continues.