Understanding Australia’s Ukraine policy

Australia has expressed its support for Ukraine in the current crisis, although we have only just begun to supply military aid. Expressing support for democratic values falls short of fighting for them, and the current war may just be a foretaste of a closer conflict to come.

Words are worth something

The West continues to stand by and watch Russia’s desecration of Ukraine without offering direct military action, but at least the rhetoric of its leaders reflects the gravity of the situation and recognises the true nature of the threat posed by Russia.

Ukraine’s agony rekindles Europe’s resolve

After decades of minimal defence spending and nervously tip-toeing around Russian strategic sensitivities, nations across Europe are mobilising their forces and flocking to join NATO now the true nature of Russian intentions can no longer be denied.

Protests erupt in Russia against Putin’s war

Thousands of protesters against Putin’s war have marched in over 50 Russian cities, despite years of blanket propaganda in state controlled media and sweeping arrests of those brave enough to raise their voice against Putin’s regime.

The long war to come

Russia gambled on Ukraine – and world opinion – folding as quickly as Crimea to its attack, but the spirited resistance of the Ukrainian people and outrage from the rest of the globe to its brutal assault mean that it faces a bitterly contested occupation until Putin is finally overthrown or sees reason.

Anonymous declares war on Russia

Russian state cyber-hackers waged unrelenting war on Ukraine’s online infrastructure long before the war began, but now hackers and citizens around the world are fighting back and targeting Russia’s cyber systems in retaliation.

Even FIFA kicks Russia from international sport

Russian teams and sports people are being kicked out of every sport in the world, and even FIFA, the notoriously corrupt and Russia-friendly international football association, is finally following suit and isolating Putin’s criminal regime from its tournaments.

What use is the United Nations?

For the first time since World War II, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has employed force to appropriate territory of another UN Member State, and yet the United Nations seems powerless to take any worthwhile action.

The revolution will be televised

Phone, dashcam and CCTV footage of Russia’s horrific crimes in Ukraine has help harden world opinion against Putin’s thuggish regime, and may yet play a role in his downfall.

Saint Olga of Kyiv – Ukraine’s patron saint of defiance and vengeance

The past few days have seen Ukrainians bravely defying a vicious onslaught of Russian aggression. Ukrainians are used to adversity and they have a special medieval role model who personifies their bravery in the face of hardship imposed by their Russian foes.

Russia’s well-oiled killing machine

Russia has a long and ignoble history of invading its neighbours, but its armed forces’ embarrassing performance against tiny Georgia in 2008 provoked an intensive modernisation which has now been unleashed in all its fury against the people of Ukraine.

Putin sets the world against him

Putin’s brutal vision of a resurgent Russian empire will not stop at the borders of a butchered Ukraine.