What Russia’s Weaponization of Hunger Can Tell Us About the Power of Shame

The Black Sea Grain Initiative is a UN-brokered agreement between Russia and Ukraine signed in July 2022 (Public Domain Pictures). The global humanitarian community had whiplash last week. This stems from Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement facilitating the exportation of wheat from the region, and then promptly re-entered … Continue reading What Russia’s Weaponization of Hunger Can Tell Us About the Power of Shame

Environmental Warfare in Ukraine: Should We Prosecute Eco-Crimes Like War Crimes?

A factory and a store burning after being bombarded in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, on March 6, 2022 (Flickr). Ukraine is on the verge of an ecological tragedy. The destruction of industrial facilities and contamination from heavy weaponry means that if Ukrainians are able to return to their homeland, they might not have … Continue reading Environmental Warfare in Ukraine: Should We Prosecute Eco-Crimes Like War Crimes?

The Mystique of the Female Soldier: Portrayals of Ukrainian Women in Western Media

Dozens of news outlets worldwide have reported on Miss Ukraine Anastasiia Lena’s viral Instagram story. The conflict in Ukraine is one of the largest Europe has seen since World War II. While warfare has changed a lot in 80 years, the way we perceive women’s roles in wartime has remained largely the same. When it … Continue reading The Mystique of the Female Soldier: Portrayals of Ukrainian Women in Western Media