NIHILIST — Ukrainian anarchist online zine

If Ukrainian military command capitulate at eastern front and the government stop all the claims about Crimea that means two scenarios:

1) Ukraine is crushed. In this case there is no reason to continue conventional war - the better way is the guerrilla warfare against the occupants.
2) The power in Ukraine is usurped by the coalition loyal to Russia. This is one of the possible scenarios - in this case we can face the real civil war. Of course we will take part at the side of the constitutional order because it will gather the most progressive parts of Ukrainian society.

Anyway, I'm not sure that current status quo will change soon, so these scenarios are more hypothetical than real.

We stand for volunteer army type. It means that compulsory military conscription should be abolished. But we can face the situation when the enemy declares a total war - in this case mobilisation is the only way to hold the positions. No difference - is this an anarchist project or common capitalist society.
I'm sure that discipline is the main mean of military force so desertion is a serious misconduct (I can say it only in the context of current military defence).

The same thing. The war is the most antianarchist action, but violence is necessary for survival. I don't know any type of modern society that can survive in a war while not using violence and power. It's no other way, so I understand Syrian curds.

I think that the formula is simple: if you hold a defensive war, everybody who threats your positions against the invaders is your enemy and should be stopped. Of course, it will be better to satisfy the demand of striking workers in the defence industry rather then crack them down. But there are no real threats of such kind of situation in reality - Ukrainian workers mostly disappoint by classic strike methods.

There was such kind of situation in Ukrainian history, when socialist government of Ukrainian people's republic cracked down the strike on the Arsenal military factory in 1918. People wanted the solution of the land issue, and government delayed the decision. As the result the UPR lost it's popularity and Ukraine entered the long going civil war.

By the way, our syndicalist organisation was involved in the "Italian strike" at local machine gun factory in 2011. The factory management solved the wage issue so the workers had won that strike.

Ukrainian far-rightists: doomed to be Russian

Correct

No, I don't see because of 2 facts:
1. Ukraine isn't an imperialist state with colonies and aggressive foreign policy;
2. Ukraine was a post-revolutionary country with a big of window of opportunity while it had become a victim of military aggression.
No similarity with WW1 French Republic at all.

What do you mean "on both sides"? Who is the second side? Ukrainian government? Ukrainian anarchists do oppose the government, but it doesn't mean to oppose the army and it's positions. Government and army aren't the same - the Armed forces of Ukraine are the most popular institution that has a lot of people's support and represents people's aspirations. The government has to support the army with gifts and privileges. It doesn't mean that the army is it's self-sacrificing servant - it serves the people, and it's not a propagandist cliché.
The major enemy of Ukrainian people is the Russian military/proxy force. The minor enemy is Ukrainian government. While there is no guarantee that Ukrainian army will be able to hold the front while the revolution will smash the government, there is nothing to talk about. Anarchism is not about 24/7 riot - it's about people's freedom. During the war we have no choice but to choose a side that will ensure more freedom or less slavery.

Defeatist propaganda? For what reason? To be smashed by Russia and get a far-right pro-Russian regime?

Hahaha, very funny. Where do you live? Did you ever faced the militarised reaction while having no professional army?
Do you know any recipe how to survive as an individual and as an anarchist while not sitting at home and saying that everything around is fascist, authoritarian, capitalist, nationalist and nothing can be done except of pure proletarian revolution led by anarchist syndicates? Honestly, I'd like to hear about that!

Actually we spotted Russian aggression and opposed it even before the legitimate government of Ukraine had established in winter-spring 2014, when the first Russian infiltrators revealed in the eastern cities.

Anarchist Geopolitics? Hahaha.
Ok, let's imagine that Ukraine is "a pawn in bigger imperialist games". What should honest anarchist do then if pro-Russian proxy establish military far-right juntas and violate the basic human rights? Sit at home and repeat what wise anarchist gurus from the West say? Run away from the country and get a discriminated refugee, for not to stain hands while having disputed occupations? Please, give some workable advice about how to survive and defend basic human rights.

Alright then, how would you call the circumstances in which one new-born country is under political and economical pressure (and after 2014 under military pressure) from the bigger and stronger imperialist country? No matter how, the reason is that a weak and poor democratic state is under attack. You may not join our struggle but you have no moral right to judge.

During the WW1 internationalist acted within imperialist states. This example is not relevant for current Ukrainian-Russian war. In 1914 anarchists from France and Germany counted on solidarity to oppose the interimperialist war. Today's Ukrainian and Russian anarchists have no mutual solidarity, because one reasons: Russian anarchist are the one's who's state began the imperialist war against post-colonial Ukraine so they have to provide anti-war and pro-Ukrainian agenda, but the don't. We were ready to "antiwar" actions if they take place in both countries, so then Russian military could be removed from Crimea and proxy - from Donbass. It was the guarantee of peace. But Russian anarchists mostly decided to blame on Ukraine because of conscious or unconscious Russian state propaganda about fascist putsch in Kiev.
So why should we demonstrate the Christian virtues?

What is the reason? What benefit could we get?

Because their government started this war, they haven't done nothing to prevent it before and stop it after. If there was no Russian imperial interest, there wouldn't be any war in Ukraine.

Do you really compare an imperialist army and post-colonial revolutionary army? Maybe you think that proto-anarchists in the First French republic shouldn't fight against the royal absolutist reaction alongside French army? Or maybe you think that Rojava doesn't deserve solidarity in the war against "Islamic State" because it's... not very anarchistic?

How would you provide the secure anti-war policy that doesn't lead to risk of occupation of Ukraine and violation of all human rights here? I have no recipes and guess that there are such recipes. There is a vital need to oppose the intervention at all fronts including the military front. I still can use basic citizen and political rights because Russian proxy in the east faced the strong defence. If I work for undermining this defence, I will be a disfranchised peace of meat under Russian military control.

It's some kind of anathema? Ok, I even wasn't a part of your church.
But anyway, before you judge on me or my comrades for being "not very proletarian-oriented" move to Ukraine and raise a political movement that you talk about. Then you'll have a moral right for excommunication etc.

Hell yeah! The uncompromising struggle against Banderite Fascist Kyiv Junta that kills innocent Russian-speaking babies for glory of world's gendarme USA!

Well, it might be comfortable to live somewhere far away from imperialist war and argue about acceptability of anti-imperialist concept. But we live beside the real imperialist war and have no such privilege. We see how the human lives are depreciating within Russian-occupied territories. So there is no questions about acceptability of anti-imperialist struggle for us - there is a vital need to protect that freedom that we already have.

We were ready to organise anti-war actions if we had the guarantees: solidarity actions in Russia, it's troops withdrawal and removing the far-right juntas in Donetsk and Luhansk. Nothing of these happened and the large war for independence had begun. So from May-June 2014 all dreams about anti-war strategy were vanished and our community understood that there is no more options except of supporting of Ukrainian military.

That's right, the benefits were visible in March 2014. Beginning from June 2014 there is no such possibility. The war has started and there is no "political" mechanisms to stop it. The only political way is to push Putin's authority, but western imperialist states won't do it.

If you live in an imperialist state and use citizen privileges, you are responsible for the government actions. If you are doing nothing for stop your government's crimes - it's "criminal omission". Russian anarchists could be radically against Russian government but they do nothing to stop the anti-Ukrainian propaganda (Russian state media blame Ukraine as fascist junta) and military invasion. It's like "not their business". So yes, they are also responsible for it while they live in Russia and use it's citizenship privileges.

Did it worked? I don't see any results. Maybe it's not the best strategy if it failed once and never came back to implementation.

It's your right to think what you want, but I live here and see it.

In my opinion several liberation processes started in 2014. Ukrainian nation wasn't oppressed culturally because Ukrainians had their own national state since 1991, freedom for national culture and it's budget support. So those liberation processes include civil society kind growth and political dependence denial.

French pre-war pacifists had such illusions and we all know how it was in the end.

Nihilist editorial board consists of people who fought at the eastern front, joined territorial defence institutions or paramilitary forces, spread ideas and teach people in civic paramilitary groups. We agitate for being ready to the guerrilla warfare and conventional war if the frozen conflict in the east becomes hotter.

Authorities disturb left radical groups in a co-working with far-rightists despite of their position in war conflict. Earlier the special services and far-right gang "c14" fabricated "evidence" of terrorist activities for local left nationalist group. Only the media efforts made this case cool. What about the defeatist position - it's rather stupid and senseless then dangerous. But even the defencist position isn't an antidote for conflicts with the state or far-right groups.

Within this war conflict there is no other solution but supporting the regular army and irregular paramilitary forces. Only this two institutions have a force to end with Russian occupation that threatens our rights and lives.

Actually there is no working class activity that might disrupt the defensive war so I don't see any sense in theorising this.

Well, we could simply pretend that we have nothing to do with it and continue our syndicalist, anticlerical, pro-feminist etc. activities that are still possible just thanks to the strong defence. We all are in the same boat here in Ukraine - anarchists, liberals, people with no classified views and even nationalists. It would be hypocritically to use the privileges of peace within Ukraine and see no merits of the military defence.

Military junta means the violation of freedom in it's most concentrated form. There was the only case when the putsch brings towards democracy and liberation (check Capitães de Abril). I'm not sure that it could be repeated without mass socialist mood in society. So I strongly oppose all of military junta ideas.

You don't have any vital need for military defence in imperialist UK. You have more rights and privileges that average Ukrainian could imagine and you have no risks to loose them. And we face the risc to loose the basics.

We are doing anarchist politics while having military/paramilitary activities. We still have a possibility to do both of them.

That tiny minority could honestly say it can't do anything to stop the invasion. But it (in mass) writes manifestos about two-front resistance and blames Ukraine as a beginner of the military conflict. Globally it legitimates Russia's military occupation of Crimea and proxy invasion in Donbass among world's left movements. Also there still is a tendency to blame on Ukrainian anarchists that argued their point of view.

Sad but true - the defedist position goes alongside with civic nationalism and nothing could be done here. We don't know any other ways to support the resistance and not to feed nationalism (don't confuse civic nationalism with far-right, fascist nationalism; they're separate in Ukraine).

Even Russian honest liberals stand against the Russian state and deserve it's disintegration unlike Russian leftists and most part of anarchists. Nationalist liberals/right liberals as Alexei Navalny and his party don't plan to de-occupy Crimea, empower Crimean Tatars' rights and leave Ukraine alone (he stated this many times in public speeches, talk-shows and interviews).
In other words we can't sacrifice our vital interests to help Russian opposition to take power. In addition it doesn't guarantee the withdrawal of Russian forces from Crimea and Donbass.

Well, if militarised Russian reaction causes political and psychological pressure then you're right. Usually there is no mass joining to the armed forces without the fear of being oppressed by reactionary intervention.
What about working class internationalism - I think it could work only when both nations' working classes are in same conditions, have common tasks and interests. I haven't seen any working class solidarity when Ukraine was attacked - only few manifestos against Russian invasion from minor anarchist groups that even wasn't Russian.

Why people leave anarchism, and how to make anarchism work

I think that the revolutions weren't the result of international working class concerted actions. Both Empires - German and Russian - fell under the weight of internal contradictions.

Also the western front didn't fall after the Russian imperial government dismantling in February 1917 and the war de facto stopped in march 3, 1918 - a year after. By the way, the Bolshevik government, established after November 1917, didn't wanted nor peace neither war with Germany. German imperial government was dismantled in November 1918 - in a half year after. So I wouldn't call it a plan.