STRIKE THE TRUTH

Unfortunately, Russia continues to torture and brutally mistreat Ukrainian prisoners of war. These atrocities aren't limited to captured soldiers—they also include civilians taken from their homes. Today, I want to shed light on the story of a journalist who disappeared in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. After a year of silence, her body was found—mutilated, missing organs, and bearing clear signs of torture. What happened to Viktoriia Roschyna? In this post, we’ll explore her case and the broader plight of thousands of Ukrainians held in captivity. Their lives are marked by relentless suffering—beatings, torture, and, in many cases, pressure to take their own lives.   BRAVE BUT BEATEN DOWN Viktoriia Roshchyna was a young Ukrainian journalist who dedicated her life to uncovering the truth—even in the darkest and most dangerous corners of Russian-occupied Ukraine. She reported from deep inside enemy-held areas, documenting war crimes, human rights abuses, and the suff...

The terms "motherland" and "fatherland" are powerful words that can evoke deep emotional ties to one's homeland. Although in English, we can switch between them interchangeably, the terms carry different cultural, historical and linguistical significance. It is also dependent on what country and language you use and come from.  Understanding the roots and meanings of each of these terms provides deep insight into a country's national identity.  In this blog post, I want to look at the roots of these words, the cultural heritage and what kind of patriotism it evokes in the citizens using it.  ETYMOLOGICAL AND TRADITIONAL ROOTS   The distinction between "motherland" and "fatherland" originates from symbolic associations and traditions in the language around the world.  "Motherland" often reflects the nurturing, life-giving qualities associated with the feminine archetype. In many cultures, the land is seen as a maternal figure tha...

This week has been a whirlwind of events that highlight just how fast and fractured the world has become. From a surprising election win in Romania to a tense phone call between Trump and Putin, and Netanyahu’s alarming announcement on Gaza, the news cycle is relentless—and it reveals deeper, unsettling shifts beneath the surface. These headlines aren’t isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of a global order unraveling before our eyes, and a democracy under siege from populism, nationalism, and growing instability. With all of this happening, I thought it was a good moment to take a step back and look at the bigger picture — the deeper issues behind these headlines: global order and the state of democracy. We'll explore the growing threats to democratic institutions, and the increasing sense of global instability.   WHAT TOOK 80 YEARS TO BUILD FELL IN MONTHS What many of us — the general public, experts, and global leaders alike — are beginning to openly acknowledge is that the glob...

This week was an interesting one for Ukraine’s ongoing war and diplomacy. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a bold public challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, inviting him to face-to-face peace talks in Turkey. Although Ukraine maintains an official policy barring negotiations with Putin, Zelenskyy explained that he couldn’t prohibit himself from pursuing dialogue in the name of peace. Predictably, Putin declined to attend. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, always eager to insert himself into global affairs, hinted that he might “pop in” to the talks if his schedule allowed. Ultimately, he didn’t show either. Later, he clarified that he would only participate if Putin did—remarking that he understood Putin’s absence, suggesting the Russian leader would only attend if Trump were there too. This blog post explores the real significance of this moment: What is Russia aiming to achieve? And what exactly is Trump playing at? PEACE TALKS IN T...

This weekend, Romania faces the second round of presidential elections, a decisive runoff between Nicușor Dan and George Simion . Ever since the controversial cancellation of last November’s vote—originally set between Elena Lasconi and far-right candidate Călin Georgescu—tensions have run high. Was it truly undemocratic to annul an election that appeared to be clearly sabotaged? In this post, I want to explore who these two candidates are, and why it matters that the centrist voice prevails. We'll also take a closer look at the legitimacy of the cancelled elections and whether the public backlash has been justified. And finally, what could it mean for Romania if Simion becomes president? WHO IS NICUȘOR DAN? Nicușor Dan was born on December 20, 1969, in Făgăraș, Brașov County. He was born during communism in Romania, His father was a laborer and his mother was an accountant. The numbers gift was also passed to him. A gifted mathematician, he earned a gold medal in the Math Olypmics...

On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the European theatre, I think it’s important to pause and reflect—not just on the sacrifices made by those who lived through it and died for our freedom, but also on the lessons we can still draw from that dark chapter in history. This post was partly inspired by how often I hear people compare today’s world to 1939, just before the outbreak of the war. And while we’re not living through the same exact circumstances, there are worrying echoes that are hard to ignore. Number 1: THE DANGERS OF TOTALITARIANISM AND UNCHECKED POWERS World War II showed us just how dangerous unchecked authoritarianism can be. Leaders like Hitler and Mussolini rose to power by playing on fear, exploiting national pain, and slowly eroding democratic systems from the inside. They controlled the media, silenced opposition, and used violence to push their ideologies. The result? A world plunged into conflict, and horrors we vowed never to repeat. Now, I’m not ...

On Friday, 9th May 2025, Russia marks 80 years since the end of World War II and the defeat of Nazism—a date of profound national pride. For many Russians, the anniversary holds extra weight this year, as the Kremlin frames its war in Ukraine as a continuation of that same fight—against so-called "Ukrainian Nazis" on Ukraine’s eastern front. A claim that’s patently false, yet apparently sufficient to justify the staggering loss of nearly a million Russian soldiers to date. In this post, we’ll dig into some key questions surrounding Russia’s Victory Day parade: Should Ukraine respect Putin’s proposed ceasefire? And will the so-called Axis of Evil leaders actually show up? The most watched guest of all—China’s Xi Jinping, who plans to make it an official visit, along with signing several bilateral agreements.  UKRAINE DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANYONE'S SAFETY Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear: Ukraine offers no guarantees of safety to anyone attending the M...

This is a revised repost from our widely read blog, focusing on the growing threat of disinformation. We break down what it is, the forms it takes, and the strategic goals behind its use. We highlight how assertive powers like Russia and China deploy disinformation as a cheap, effective weapon in hybrid warfare—undermining Western societies from within. WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DISINFORMATION? Disinformation is false or misleading information spread deliberately to deceive. Unlike misinformation—which is shared unintentionally—disinformation is crafted to manipulate public opinion, sow discord, or undermine trust in institutions, often as part of hybrid warfare. It spreads through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, as well as traditional media. Tactics range from fake articles and doctored images to misleading statements by public figures. During elections, for instance, disinformation may target candidates with false allegations. Globally, it can distort narrativ...