Is it inappropriate to take a meme angle on an ongoing invasion that involves real suffering on a global scale with a possible lead up to the next world war? Not really, if you do it with tact. Oh you thought I was talking about myself, fulfilling my moral obligation and editorial duty as resident meme girl?
No, I was referring to Ukraine's official Twitter account.
And these sardonic quips are no new thing. The account has been around since its creation five years ago by then Ukranian press officer Yarema Dukh as a way to foster international attention. It was only in May 2017 that the account engaged in a Twitter feud with -surprise, surprise- Russia's main account.
The exchange started when @Ukraine decided to respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech in Paris referring to Anna Yaroslavna / Anne of Kiev, a Slavic princess who later became queen of France via King Henry I, as "Russian Ani". This then snowballed into a debate of the historical figure's origins. You know, kinda like Singapore and Malaysia about badminton player Loh Kean Yew. Culminating in a Simpsons gif that has since went viral.
When @Russia says Anne de Kiev established Russia-France relations, let us remind the sequence of events pic.twitter.com/nBKhQdyKql
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) May 30, 2017
You really don't change, do you? pic.twitter.com/HDfS9A8jWZ
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) May 30, 2017
This went on to further tongue-in-cheek corrections, such as using the registered Crimea Twitter account to reclaim the hotly-contested and annexed region.
.@RusEmbUSA If you’re a tomb raider, this could be a good movie. But sanctions & isolation is the only prize you get for violating int law pic.twitter.com/xFOZlCFbao
— Crimea / Крим (@Crimea) June 27, 2017
Very recently, the Ukraine account has even thanked Elon Musk for his response to Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov's direct appeal (via Twitter, no less) about providing satellite Internet service Starlink.
thanx, appreciate it https://t.co/OWm2Yu2WKC
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) February 26, 2022
If you ever wonder whether we as a species will ever rise above memes, there's your answer. While some may argue that the millennial approach potentially trivialises a matter as grave as this, it is undeniably a proven way to fight misinformation and fake news.
“Imagine a truly good person who’s been [through] a lot in the past, managed to overcome hardships and developed this very special type of sassy and darkish humor as a byproduct. This is what Ukraine is about,” the account tells The Washington Post, “We laugh in the face of threats not because we underestimate them, but because what else should we do? Laydown and cry? Tears have never won anyone freedom.
“The truth is that humor has an enormous power, especially when facing a brutal, self-aggrandizing and extremely serious authoritarian regime like Russia," the account continues to say via Twitter messages, “They are so serious that they actually fear humor no less than nukes. Memes do just that.”
In light of that, please enjoy the Greatest Hits of the account:
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) December 7, 2021
toxic ex here 👇 https://t.co/zU7EEYoreg
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) June 23, 2020
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) December 27, 2021
we will prevail over those langoliers for you, sir https://t.co/m94aNP93AF
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) February 28, 2022
This is not a ‘meme’, but our and your reality right now.
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) February 24, 2022
For further action, here’s what you can do to help the people of Ukraine.