I’m Devana — a writer and musician from Lviv. I write about Ukraine from Ukraine and share my own thoughts as a citizen who has lived here this whole time. I don’t belong to any political force. This is an independent voice. Site My songs, Ukrainian radio, games, quizzes, an app for learning Ukrainian and live news from Ukraine in English are here: devana.com.ua If you want the writing itself, you can support it here: Exclusive articles, reflections and songs about Ukraine: patreon.com/DevanaUkraine Original erotic stories: patreon.com/devanasecrets If you just want this voice to stay free: buymeacoffee.com/devana Name and face Devana is a pen name after the Slavic goddess of the hunt. The symbolism matters to me: she walked with wolves and wore a bear’s skin. Nietzsche wrote that every profound spirit needs a mask; even more, around every profound spirit a mask is constantly growing. I made myself such a mask — the AI identity you see in this profile. Behind it is a living person. I need it because of my views, and because I write from inside the war. Glory to God!

Russians struck a student dormitory in Kyiv. There are students among the dead and wounded. Shall we feel sympathy for the Russian military?

🤖 I understand that the majority of people are Russian bots and Russians who support Russian genocides but what kind of person does one have to be, lost morally and intellectually, in order to accuse Ukrainians of this and to wish Russians victory or peace on Russian conditions?

💥 Even during the Second World War Ukrainians were in shock how in the 20th century such cruelty was possible and directly declared that the USA and its presidents were guilty in the Russian crimes, because they helped Russia. 📜 This is from the memoirs of a Ukrainian veteran of those times.

🇺🇦 You may not like the Ukrainian government (after all Ukrainians also do not like it) but you cannot not like the Ukrainian people. And for what not to like it? Because Russia said to hate? ⚖️ It is necessary to distinguish different things. When you demand from the government of Ukraine certain reforms (for example anti-corruption) and until the government does not accept them you do not give it money for some political actions or some licenses purely political — this can be considered an action against the government. But when you block for Ukraine the possibility to defend itself, you place the Ukrainian people under the blow, you block the entry of Ukraine into the EU or NATO, you block funds precisely for the Ukrainians, and not the government — you act against the Ukrainian people. And with this you in no way punish the government, because the government itself with pleasure robs the Ukrainians. 🚫 And now a certain category of countries is noticeable which occupy precisely the anti-Ukrainian position not against the government, although they often justify this precisely with dislike for the government, but precisely against the Ukrainian people and this chauvinistic hatred in them also often breaks through in their rhetoric and actions. The blocking by America of military aid, intelligence data, the limitation of Starlink speeds is not simply an action against the Ukrainian people, but literally help in killing us. The blocking by Hungary or Poland of the entry of Ukraine into the EU, the attacks which so remind of the anti-Ukrainian pogroms — these are actions against the Ukrainian people, and not politics. The ignoring of the crimes of the TCC by the international society, even with a reference to the necessity of defense — this is an action against the Ukrainian people. The ignoring of Russian terrorism, the legitimization of Russian politicians — this is literally complicity in the genocide, because not only crimes of geopolitical scale are carried out before their eyes, but also the laws regarding which they also have certain obligations are violated, Putin is not arrested under the ICC warrant, Lavrov and Peskov are admitted into different countries without arrests ignoring their crimes. And the impunity of companies which work in Russia, financing terrorism, the impunity for the USA for the financing of terrorism is what if not hypocrisy? 🤒 This world is sick!

Presentation of a flying Tesla in Ukraine 😀 In all seriousness, though, the russian-speaker owner parked in a spot reserved for people with disabilities.

❓ What essence does Russia put in the terrorizing of Ukrainians with terrorist acts, murders, genocides, starving with hunger, absence of electricity, water and heat? Obviously to frighten, to make life unbearable, to force to capitulate. But to capitulate for the sake of what? For the sake of life in slavery? For the sake of that to give away one’s home, memories of childhood, the past, the sacrifices of ancestors completely for free? And why does Russia need this? Why does it need foreign territory? Do they really have little of it? They already have the largest territory in the world. Is it really tight for them? No, there the population is 1 person per 60 square kilometers, and the majority of the territories are generally not settled, not developed, there are no roads, infrastructure. Maybe they are poor and they need Donbas in order to feed themselves? No, they already have a lot of oil and gas. Then why, for what do they need Ukraine? Unless as a bridgehead for conducting war against the whole of Europe…

What Ukrainian (top) and Russian (bottom) money looked like in 1917–1918

In 1991, according to all documents, Ukraine officially became the successor to the Ukraine of 1918.

How the flag of Ukraine has changed

A walk through Lviv at night, one hour before the curfew

🗺️ In 882 the map of Ukraine looked as on the first map (white-red). In this time Ukraine was born from the territories of several regions around the Kyiv region and grew to the West to Kholm, to the east to the borders with Crimea, to the south all the way to Bulgaria and to the north all the way to the borders of Karelia (Finland). In that time Russia did not exist. Ukraine had the name Rus, although the territories of modern Ukraine already then were called Ukraine. ⚔️ In the 1600s Ukraine (already often the name Ukraine was used, although one could meet Hetmanate or Zaporozhian Sich) (second map). Muscovy which received independence from the Golden Horde only in 1480 is the enemy of Ukraine and wages wars with Ukraine. The territories of Ukraine from Lviv (and even a bit further to the west) and not only to Donbas but even further to the east to Kuban and Kursk. Crimea then was a separate state and often was an ally of Ukraine in the struggle against Muscovy. Later Muscovy changes the name to Russia trying in this way to appropriate the history of Rus and justify its “right” to Ukrainian lands. 📜 In 1918 the Ukrainian People’s Republic becomes recognized by Europe and Russia in its borders as on the third map, which run more westerly than the modern Ukrainian borders and more easterly than the modern Ukrainian borders, because they include not only Donetsk and Luhansk but also Kuban, Kursk, Belgorod, Lgov and so on. Crimea also enters the composition of Ukraine — the Crimean state voluntarily voted for joining the composition of Ukraine. 📉 After the Soviet occupation in 1991 Ukraine lost a large part of its territories. The most Russia took for itself, part it gave away to neighbors. Ukraine went to such a sacrifice for the sake of peace. By the way, every Ukrainian region despite the centuries of propaganda and blocking of the truth voted in the total majority for the restoration of the independence of Ukraine. The borders were recognized by the whole world and the UN, Russia additionally signed a multitude of renunciations of claims to the borders of Ukraine and obligations to respect and not violate the borders of Ukraine. There were also the Budapest Memorandum, and the treaties about friendship and still much more... Russia at that time was significantly smaller by the way, because it was already occupying after 1991 not only Ukraine but also Tajikistan, Dagestan, Chechnya, part of Moldova and Georgia. And before this it stole in Finland Karelia, and before this there were still and still thefts. Russia wages war continuously, as if they have few territories, and the occupied territories literally leaves in ruins. 📝 P.S. The years are indicated approximately as the existence of the states, the territories during this period changed.

🏰 Unfortunately, no one of the rich people behind the golden walls of their palaces understands how it is to be a Ukrainian today, how to fight for the right to live which the world took from us, canceling all laws and returning to the “rules of the stronger” as in the wild times. ⛓️ We also once were rich but Russia came and took our property, literally taking us into slavery. Interesting that Russia then was supported by the USA and Europe and we alone fought against all. According to Russian rules if you had an area larger than a certain norm, more than 1 horse and so on, then you were considered an enemy of the people and you were sent to concentration camps, all your property was taken because in communism no one has the right to private property — everything belongs to the state. And this state is the occupier, it also conducts genocides trying to kill you, your identity, shoots the artists and scientists of your people... And this continued from the times of the Russian Empire to the USSR and even after the USSR in 1991 Russia stole all the savings of Ukrainians from the banks, declaring that since the USSR no longer exists, then these money are theirs, stole several Ukrainian regions, stole the equipment of almost all factories and plants, and the USA helped to steal also our weapons. After itself Russia left here ruins which were seized by the Soviet mafia which became pro-Russian oligarchs who still control everything in Ukraine, rob Ukrainians, and almost all Ukrainian politicians are their puppets. 💰 We live in poverty not through our own fault, not because we are uneducated or stupid as this often happens in third world countries. On the contrary, look how many inventions in the world appeared thanks to Ukrainians. Ukraine is not a poor country, but a robbed one and everything that we have is our home, our land. Russia came again in order to take it. And many military voluntarily went to defend Ukraine already in 2014 having neither weapons nor money. And even now the salary of a serviceman is several hundred dollars per month, with the exception of premium ones at zero which are calculated by days. And most military buy much at their own expense. And during the war everything military strongly grew in price. Civilian Ukrainians receive generally no help at all, the currency rate devalued, prices grew several times, taxes soared, there is no work and we barely survive. And everyone now is forcibly mobilized. 🗣️ And in this time when they attacked us, and not we, when they are killing us and we with the last forces defend ourselves because we were betrayed by those who guaranteed us protection and security we first listen how we ourselves are guilty in the war voicing different marasmus of Russian propagandists or how the war was provoked by third forces from the Jews to NATO according to the methodology of Hitler (Hitler by the way also “defended” the rights of ethnic Germans). Then our “guarantors” bind our hands and do not give weapons, forbid to strike at Russia, switch off the internet, remove sanctions from the enemy and finance him. The terrorists who conduct genocides against our people they call humane people and return them to all organizations and sports competitions. They press on us so that we capitulate and give the aggressor our territories. They hate us and all their rhetoric is directed against us and only against the victim, and regarding the aggressor only praise, only glorification. And many here brought the greatest sacrifice for this land, for the fact that Ukraine remains here. They do not understand this. For them the life of millions of people is less valuable than a liter of diesel or a tax the price of a cup of coffee per month. And these people were chosen by the people of this country, these people are supported by the people of this country and write analogous things on the internet, justifying their anti-human treacherous policy... ⚔️ We got used to being alone. We alone fought in the times of the occupation of the Russian Empire as the Cossacks. We alone fought in the times of the Soviet occupation as the UPA and even now our enemies demand from us to stop honoring our heroes, because, you see, our heroes defended Ukraine from them. We and now fight alone at the time when on the side of Russia fights North Korea and Iran, in fact, declared war on us. Probably it is fated for us to be alone but greatness comes precisely in solitude.

📜 Do politicians understand how they will enter history? Do they realize that today's times are not the same as once was, where they recorded what they wanted and Russia could rewrite most of its crimes onto the Nazis. Now everything is preserved — every document even if it is destroyed, every said word, every order, every propagandist cartoon or video. Do parties understand how they will enter history and what shadow they will cast on all members even in those times when they could be respected? Do business companies and businessmen understand the future of their business and with what name they will remain here? Do even ordinary people understand that every their said word on the internet will be preserved and will force the descendants either to burn with shame or to be proud? 🎬 Imagine to yourself that in the times of Nazism there was the internet, although already so many things were preserved on video and with documents as the union of the USSR and the 3rd Reich, the joint division of Europe, the allied parades on the occupied territories, the identical ideology, the same posts of propaganda, the same concentration camps and genocides and even despite the fact that Russia falsified history for its benefit historians know that the Russians killed with genocides more than the Nazis. Everyone saw the speeches of Hitler and observes how word for word Putin repeats them — the same “justifications” for the war, the same “reasons”, even the symbolism is the same. And now imagine that there is a video how the president of the USA, for example, demands from Europe to capitulate before the 3rd Reich or the USSR, blocks them the help and declares that the faster Hitler or Stalin win the faster the war will end, threatens with sanctions Europe, signs alliances and finances Hitler and Stalin. Creates propagandist films against Europe, as if Europe needs to be allowed to perish because European politicians of the type of Churchill steal money. You do understand what shame this would be for today's USA? Especially when will be shown by name every American who supported and accused the Jews, glorified the Nazis...? Will be fixed an American with a swastika football or the USSR and their children when these photos will scatter on the internet or will be in history textbooks in school with the signature who this is and from his city how they will be ashamed? And this will be, this exactly will be and even not on such scales as you imagine the internet today, because the internet develops, everything will be significantly more terrible for those who today took the wrong side!

💥 What will be if Russia falls apart? Inside Russia the occupied peoples will receive freedom, control over their own lands, the right to choose their own leaders and develop, restore the oppressed culture and the forgotten language, get rid of the shackles and propaganda and people will become richer, and their cities better. 🌍 Outside Russia the threat of a nuclear strike will disappear, most wars will disappear, dictatorships and terrorism in the world will remain without support and financing, peace will become safer and brighter, the quantity of pro-Russian politicians and problems with migrants will decrease, oil, gas, gasoline will become cheaper and more accessible. 🤔 Why do the USA and part of Europe fear the collapse of Russia and even the victory of Ukraine and do everything in order to save Russia from defeat? From one side possibly this is incompetence. Hard to believe in this, because now is the era of the internet and in general one can learn much of what one did not know but many conservative people blindly cling to the limited decisions of ancient politicians who in their time fell into the nets of the false faith in the USSR or Russia and consider Russia as an ally, ignoring its criminal activity and cruelty of the level of the 3rd Reich or the USSR. From the other side this is direct work for Russia. They simply receive Russian money for the betrayal of their own country, lobbying Russian interests and, in my opinion, such people are precisely more in Europe, because Europe is significantly closer to Russia and better knows Russia than the USA, which can err, although there also are enough Russian agents, as we see. ⚔️ So how for us to fight against the unification of evil in the world around Russia?

Kharkiv. The weekend. People are relaxing in the park while explosions ring out all around. War is becoming the norm in this mad world, ruled by people who are far too old.

This is what life looks like when you trust agreements with Russia or the USA.

Russia has been awarded the hosting of the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships. This is direct support for terrorism, and this is not the first time we have seen this. All sports organizations must undergo major reforms, and their members must be thoroughly vetted and subjected to lustration!

There should be a law that automatically equates anyone who justifies murder with a murderer, and anyone who justifies terrorism with a terrorist.

⚖️ Stop normalizing Russian aggression. The Russian invasion is not simply an attack, this is not hooliganism. This is not simply theft on geopolitical scales. This is mass murder, this is the kidnapping of people, this is daily terrorist acts — all that against which the world united and promised not to allow more never again! And the military crimes, the violations of the rules of war, of conventions, of the violations of treaties and the betrayal of Ukraine, which gave away nuclear weapons, planes and missiles in exchange for guarantees that no one will attack us very strongly strengthen this precedent in a dangerous direction! 🎭 Right now we see when the pro-Russian “elite” in the world, justifying the aggressor tries to legalize his crimes, to help him avoid punishments and accuses the victim of the unwillingness of peace, like, if the victim had not resisted, then she would have died and the war would already not have been. It would have been, against the next country, because Ukraine is not the first and not the last victim of Russian aggression. And when this is simply words — this is one but when from you the possibilities to defend yourself are switched off by the “guarantors” of your security, so that you are killed — this already can be equated to complicity in the crime. ⚖️ If we do not punish the killers and the thieves of the global scale, then is there sense to punish the killers who kill only several tens of people, and even less? Who steal only money and a bit, and not cities and countries together with houses and people? And if we punish them, then to punish the aggressors who attack other countries all the more is needed! Otherwise what is the sense of civilization? What is the sense of laws? And we allow them to measure the life of people in money and to justify genocides with the corruption of politicians. Nonsense!