on the ground in ukraine

 

We are all thinking about Ukraine, especially now as May 9, known as Victory Day in Russia, looms. Putin has made V-E Day, the end of WWII in 1945, into an annual show of military muscle in Red Square. And people fear some extreme show of force to mark the day. I  can't stop looking at Kate Knapp's painting of sunflowers.

   Ed Barnes, an old war horse who has spent considerable time in wars in the area (think Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine, etc.), in particular is worried. He hears the clarion call and wishes he were there. And he particularly is worried about our friend Chien-Chi Chang, who is there. The other night, Chien-Chi heard missiles strike a railroad not far away from the place he is staying. (You can see his photographs on Insta on the Magnum Photo feed.) Ed would like him to get out. Now. He smells danger.

   But journalists do what they do, and they can't do it remotely. And so, Chien-Chi stays. Having grown up in Taiwan, he can viscerally relate to the menace of a powerful neighboring country. And he stands with Ukraine.