Tim MakFeb 4

Good morning to readers; #Kyiv remains in #Ukrainian hands.

Russian captivity was hell for Oleksii - painfully dark and cold.

For him, Ukraine's power cuts aren't just uncomfortable, they are worsening his #PTSD and triggering flashbacks from the worst days of his life. https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/why-cold-darkness-worsen-ptsd-among

Why cold, darkness worsen PTSD among ex-POWs

We explore the tragic, unusual link between cold and post traumatic stress. Amid blackouts, former POWs face a surge in flashbacks. Oleksii is waking up from nightmares for the first time in years.

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
"I've started having bad dreams. I remember my punishment cell. It was constantly cold there. Even in summer, it was always cold in our cell," said Oleksii Anulia, who spent nearly ten months in Russian captivity in 2022.
#russia #captivity #pow
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
It has been three years since he was released from the punishment cell, where the air was saturated with mold and the stench of urine and feces.
#ukraine #war #pow
Show threadTim MakFeb 4

Yet, this winter Oleksii has begun waking in the middle of the night to flashbacks, as the darkness and cold in his own home resembles the conditions of captivity.

#ukraine #ptsd

Show threadTim MakFeb 4
He is not alone. Traumatic #memories have intensified among former #prisoners of war, with the onset of #blackouts, as power outages have become a powerful trigger.
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
Cold is one of the forms of #torture #Russian forces systematically use against #Ukrainians held in #Russian prisons. Today, that same cold has turned into a tool of pressure on #civilians, aimed at breaking society and forcing #Ukraine into concessions.
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
To learn more about how the conditions of #Russian captivity continue to shape Oleksii’s life long after his release, read the full story via the link https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/why-cold-darkness-worsen-ptsd-among
Why cold, darkness worsen PTSD among ex-POWs

We explore the tragic, unusual link between cold and post traumatic stress. Amid blackouts, former POWs face a surge in flashbacks. Oleksii is waking up from nightmares for the first time in years.

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak
Show threadTim Mak

#NEWS OF THE DAY:

#RUSSIA-U.S. #NUCLEAR PACT EXPIRES: On Thursday, the last U.S.-Russia nuclear deterrence pact expires, AP reported. Opening up the possibility of the resumption of a nuclear arms race between the two largest nuclear arsenals in the world, after a half-century of nuclear deterrence. https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-nuclear-weapons-treaty-putin-trump-5b1af24b0b3e65a8acb6ca7153018beb

Fears loom for a new arms race as the last nuclear pact between the US and Russia expires

The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States is set to expire this week, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. The end of the New START Treaty sets the stage for what many fear could be an unconstrained nuclear arms race. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for one more year if Washington follows suit, but U.S. President Donald Trump has been noncommittal about extending it. Arms control advocates have warned that the treaty's termination would fuel a renewed arms race.

AP News
Feb 4 at 2:48pmWeb
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
EU STATES LEAVE #ZOOM AND #TEAMS TO DISTANCE U.S.: Last week, #Paris announced that 2.5 million public sector employees will stop using #American video conferencing tools by 2027, AP reported. https://apnews.com/article/europe-digital-sovereignty-big-tech-9f5388b68a0648514cebc8d92f682060
France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US

European governments are moving away from U.S. tech giants, opting for domestic or open-source alternatives. France plans to replace Zoom and Teams with a homegrown video conference system by 2027. Austria's military has adopted open-source office software, and a German state has switched to free software for administrative tasks. This shift aims for “digital sovereignty” amid concerns over data privacy and reliance on U.S. companies. The movement has gained momentum due to geopolitical tensions and fears of tech companies cutting off access. European officials emphasize the importance of not being dependent on a single country or company.

AP News
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
MORE #UKRAINIANS READY TO #CEDE #DONBAS, BUT WITH #SECURITY GUARANTEES: In 2022, more than 80 percent of Ukrainians considered ceding territory to Russia unacceptable. Now, 40 percent are willing to give up #Donbas, but only under the condition of lasting peace and strong security guarantees from #European and #American partners, The New York Times reported. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-donbas-region.html
For Peace, More Ukrainians Consider the Once Unthinkable: Surrendering Land

Polls show a growing acceptance of territorial concessions among a war-weary public, if Ukraine receives strong security guarantees.

The New York Times
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
To learn more about how homeless people in #Ukraine live in the cold, read our story via the link https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/how-ukraines-homeless-are-faring
How Ukraine’s homeless are faring in freezing conditions

Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s heating infrastructure have turned the -20°C winter into a harsh test of survival for homeless people. Ivan hasn’t had a home since he left Crimea in 2011.

The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak
Show threadTim MakFeb 4
#CAT OF CONFLICT:
Today’s Cat of Conflict is Oleksandra’s cat Compote (it’s also the name of a Ukrainian winter drink made from boiled fruit). Compote isn’t the biggest fan of his new sweater, but without it he gets really cold.
Show threadTim MakFeb 4

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