Oleshky thoughts

Oleshky has been in the news a lot lately, and that's good. Good that a terrible situation is getting attention, at least.

Personally, I just found out that someone I know got out from there and arrived in free Ukraine. Traveling from occupied territory is a long, roundabout journey,* and she had recently been wounded, so it was probably doubly hard. The photo I saw of her was so shocking that I cried. Her face looked sweet, but she used to be a powerful, polished, businesswoman type, not sick and elderly. I'm not going to share the photo. 

The photo of her and contrast with the appearance I remember made me think of when the former mayor of Kherson was returned from captivity last year. At that time there were lots of before and after photos of him going around online. Here's one:

Now, the contrast in the person I know is even more drastic, if you can imagine that. And she was just living under occupation, not in actual captivity. This is why I want to scream: 

Ukraine cannot give up occupied territory! It must be returned!

The occupiers are monsters and this is what they do to innocent people. 

That's all for now. I just thought I would add my voice to current events in Oleshky and give a reminder that what is happening in occupied territory is not right. 

*This map from Kyiv Independent shows how people have to go all the way around now, for what used to be a quick trip across the river.