--no context.

The government in Kiev was overthrown earlier this year, by a pro-western uprising. The east of Ukraine, more pro-Russian, have taken over a number of buildings and squares in east Ukraine. In nearby Donetsk, they have even declared themselves the People Republic of Donetsk and have scheduled a referendum of independence from Ukraine. Ukraine has sent in the military to quell these uprisings, so far without much luck.

so this woman would be one of the peoples Republic of Donetsk? And the tanks are Ukrainian?

The soldier's viewed as defending a fascist government, and protesting by following orders that left him both "morally superior" and "unable to win." The woman showed no bravery. There was no risk, except maybe getting hurt by accident.

This is unlike those protesting against China a couple of decades ago. They ran risks, and paid for their actions--death, long prison sentences.


Note that there is a greater risk in the soldier's surrendering. In some cases the soldiers have been beaten. "Lynch" is the best way to translate the word describing the "peaceful protesters'" actions. In other cases, they've been merely humiliated. In some cases, they do go to the other side. Hard to tell, since all you see is video taken by the pro-Russian side, which, oddly, is usually taken as "neutral."


Note that in Mariupol a citizens group that was defending a building had its women beaten by protesters trying to take over the building.

The takeaway: It's better to stand down a soldier than to confront a group of "peaceful protesters." It was the same in Kyiv: More beatings, more torture, more deaths happened to the fascists than to the "Russians."