The sunflower is Ukraine’s nationwide flower and has change into a potent image of hope and resistance in the course of the invasion. It’s an idea Egle Plytnikaite, a Lithuanian illustrator based mostly in Vilnius, has captured poignantly in her cowl artwork for this week’s version of the Guardian’s weekly information journal.
“My purpose was to depict the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian individuals who united for his or her nation within the darkest hour,” she writes. “They're experiencing a fully horrible and inhumane terror from Russian occupiers and but they handle to maintain morale excessive and struggle again with unbelievable pressure. There's a saying that ‘you can't make a free man kneel’ and Ukrainians are a residing instance of that.
“Slava Ukraini, heroyam slava!” (Glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes)
For many individuals, the true horror of Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine was introduced dwelling final weekend by surprising photographs exhibiting a household of 4 killed by Russian mortar fireplace whereas fleeing the city of Irpin. But, regardless of the dire situations for civilians trapped in cities resembling Kherson and Mariupol, dedication to withstand the Russian invasion stayed agency. Certainly, in refusing to go away Kyiv, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has epitomised braveness and dignity within the face of Moscow’s onslaught.
Our protection on this version focuses on the Ukrainian resistance, with Luke Harding reflecting on every week that felt as if a long time had passed by. The diary of a Kyiv mum or dad particulars a world turned the other way up in a number of days. Captured Russian troopers specific confusion and remorse whereas, on Ukraine’s borders, a mass exodus continues, with about 2 million individuals having fled. Most have headed for Poland the place, as Lorenzo Tondo observes, they've obtained a unique welcome to the Syrian and Afghan refugees who arrived there final yr.
In Opinion, Neal Ascherson laments historical past’s forgotten classes, Larry Elliott ponders the west’s urge for food for sustained sanctions towards Russia, and Rebecca Solnit reminds us that in a world beset by chaos and turmoil, hope can at all times be discovered if you understand the place to look.
Australia suffered a traumatic week, battered by storms that introduced catastrophic flooding to the east coast, with extra anticipated this week. Then got here the deaths of two of the nation’s cricketing legends – Rod Marsh and Shane Warne – in fast succession. Caitlin Cassidy surveys among the flood wreckage, whereas sports activities author Andy Bull pays tribute to Warne, one of many biggest cricketers ever.
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