Life under Russian occupation has been hell. Kherson region in southern Ukraine, roughly the size of the state of Maryland, reminds me of a gigantic concentration camp.
About 500,000 of the region’s one million people remained after Russian troops rolled in late February. Those who resist the invaders are abducted, beaten, starved, filtrated and murdered, maybe.
Western jornoists have for months been distracted by atrocities in other parts of the country, but that will all change in August, at least according to Michael.
It goes without saying that Michael, aka Zafer Ronin, should not be talking to The New York Times, which should not be quoting him by name or identifying his unit for what should be obvious reasons — especially to Michael, his loved ones and commanding officer in Ukraine. Loose lips sink ships and this ain’t Kansas.
Looking on the positive side, ibogaine therapy clinics are popping up in Kyiv.
Emily Feng for NPR, meanwhile, has filed an excellent report about the mess, titled Ukrainian villagers flee Russian-occupied Kherson on foot, bikes and wheelchairs.