War in Ukraine
Courage in Kyiv, activism in Saint Petersburg, and more
March 10, 2022
In this week’s issue of Public Seminar, scholars, authors, and journalists respond to Russian invasion in Ukraine.
“On Tuesday, March 1, after four days of hiding in an office basement in Kyiv, my mother told me on the phone that she returned to her apartment, in the neighborhood not far from the city center. She and her next-door neighbors designated the safest place in their eighteen-story building—the hall outside their apartments, far from windows and doors on the tenth floor outside their apartments. She sleeps fully dressed and keeps her bag with blankets, food, and other necessities by the door, ready to leave whenever the sirens go off.” Mariia Shynkarenko celebrates the courage and creativity of her compatriots in Ukraine. (March 8, 2022)
At PEN America’s “Voices for Ukraine” author reading, James Carroll addressed Ukrainian writers. “We want your thousand years behind to meet a thousand years ahead, a future to match your past.” (March 8, 2022)
“At the police department, we gave fingerprints under the threat that the police would break our fingers. One guy turned a portrait of Putin on the wall upside down and was sent to a special detention center.” Russian anti-war activists talk to Anastasia Shteinert about putting their bodies on the line. (March 1, 2022)
Taras Bilous has a message for those who would offer a critique of liberal internationalism in lieu of action: “A large part of the Western Left should honestly admit that it completely fucked up in formulating its response to the ‘Ukrainian crisis.’” (March 4, 2022)
“The isolation of Russia from the world amounts to a continued cultural and technological degradation of our country, with a complete lack of positive perspectives in view. The war with Ukraine is a step into nowhere.” Russian scientists share an open letter advocating peace. (March 7, 2022)
Eurozine offers an anonymous appeal from Russian civil society: “Write to the businessman you trade with. Write to the state officials. To the men in power. To the military. To politicians of any sort. Every single Russian you know.” (March 7, 2022)
Want to add your name in support of Ukraine? The New University in Exile Consortium urges you to sign this statement of solidarity.