I am from Ukraine. Some years ago, my new friends worldwide reacted the same way (sniffed contemptuously) as Jason Statham’s hero from The Transporter to this phrase.
Ukraine always was associated with corruption, Chernobyl, borscht. And often not without reason. Russian, Ukrainian 一 who will distinguish them at all?
Unfortunately, even now, after two weeks of the bombing of Ukraine, war seems like a local conflict between two brothers. In fact, this is a conflict of civilization and barbarism. Due to the presence of nuclear and chemical weapons in Russia, there is a chance that humanity will use stones and sticks in the next war.
Now the truth lies not between Ukraine and Russia, but here in Ukraine. We will protect Ukraine as citizens of a free and civilized state. It is our relatives from Russia who do not believe us and are silent, and it is our voices are blocked
We are the witnesses, so we see everything as it is. I realize that Russian propaganda now is as strong as ever. But I, my family, friends, colleagues, relatives live here and see the truth. My firsthand story does not aim to lie. As far as we see with our own eyes bombing our city and refugees from other cities, we bring food, donate blood, weave protective nets, and now beg the world for help.
What Happened in Ukraine?
Ukraine is the most peaceful country; the voluntary renunciation of nuclear weapons confirms this. When the Russian protege, President Yanukovych, fled to Russia with the entire treasury of Ukraine, Russia took over Crimea. It is a peninsula in the Black Sea, with many oil and gas in the coastal zone. There was no resistance here because no one could believe in such a thing and did not resist.
With Donbas and Luhansk, it turned out differently. At first, Russia sponsored private military companies to capture cities. Then the Ukrainian army, with the support of volunteers (yes, volunteers bought equipment through the national fundraising), liberated most of these once industrial regions. Russia led a professional army, and after heavy fighting, the conflict became frozen within 1/3 of the territory of these regions.
The following eight years turned the resort Crimea into a military base, ruined the environment of the peninsula. As for human rights, kidnappings, corruption, and torture in the Russian Federation have become the norm.
Now Ukraine faced with full-scale attack 一 Russian troops surrounded Ukraine along the perimeter (including the territory of Belarus and Crimea). Russia bashfully called the war as a special operation, but the name does not change the essence.
WordPress Community Supports Ukraine
Do you know who asks me if I am safe on the first day of this war? It was my friend from Hong Kong. Contrary to this, my relatives from Russia ignored me for ten days. I understand that Russian people will go to prison for 15 years for the truth about Ukraine, but it doesn’t hurt any less.
Ukraine strives to become a part of world civilization, and world support is vital. Just look at this list of WordPress companies:
- We, at Crocoblock, decided temporarily stop selling and supporting Russian clients who supports Putin’s war.
- Dynamic OOO gathered 3,000 EUR humanitarian donations from their clients.
- Wordfence is protecting .ua top-level domains affected by massive attacks.
- WPTavern WordPress community shared supportive article, gathering companies who stay with Ukraine and sources how anyone can help.
- Namecheap stopped providing services to Russian customers.
- Serverbolt is offering free hosting for anyone working to help Ukrainians.
- Matt Mullenweg shared his support in the recent episode.
- TemplateMonster is donating the major share to Ukrainian Army.
- FastComet is securing Ukrainian customers, temporarily stops providing services to Russian clients.
- WPTuts is donating his course profit to humanitarian aid.
- Look, Jonathan Bossenger even created a WordPress plugin to support Ukraine.
- Smashingmagazine published an article on the blog and donating all proceeds from “Smart Interface Design Patterns Checklists“.
- SiteGround donated laptops for Ukrainian children to help them studying, created the landing page for Russian people to know the truth about the war.
Ukraine highly appreciates the help of the WordPress community. Really, it has no price. Now every blanket, free hosting, plugin, telegram bot, toothpaste, wet wipes, antipyretic, diapers are more expensive than gold. The war took us by surprise. That’s why we give thanks for everything.
In 2014, many IT people defended Ukraine with weapons in their hands. And now the IT community has become a brotherhood. Сrocoblock, like most Ukrainian companies, continues to operate even in basements, pays taxes in advance, develops new products. Despite the step-by-step explanation by Jason Coleman, we will not cope without you.
WordPress community should quit Russia because any business with Russia is bloody now. To give up freedom, dignity, and decency means to give up oneself. Nobody will be able to live with an unclean conscience and a sense of betrayal.
Why Support Ukraine?
I call you to contribute because you may be the next who suffer from an unfair trial, extortion, torture, wrongful imprisonment, fine. Ukrainians fight for their right to protest, to provide free and safe business, to express their opinion, and to trust their neighbors. Just for the opportunity to wake up at home, kiss a loved one, read a fairy tale to children at night.
Here freedom fights slavery, and the civilization makes its choice.
How to Support Ukraine?
We see many volunteers over the world supporting Ukraine. They donate money, blood, give shelter, and take part in hostilities.
You can help Ukrainian Army via Ukrainian National Bank or Come Back Alive fund. Furthermore, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched a special fund to gather money for defense, medical aid, and rebuilding Ukraine.
Of course, not everyone wants to support the army, so humanitarian help is an option:
P.S. A lot of clients are asking about how to support Crocoblock team directly, as we are located in Ukraine. The best way is to continue buying our products, thus it helps our team to function.
We highly appreciate our clients and friends for their support. We gratitude them for the messages from customers and partners.
Every word and prayer helps us to hold on! We’ll never give up! Ukraine will not surrender to a dictator.
