OPINION: How to Speak to People on Social Media About Ukraine

Many people still don’t know the truth about Russia’s war against Ukraine. They’ve been trapped in a fog of propaganda, fatigue, and false balance. For decades, the Kremlin has flooded the world with disinformation – twisting history, buying voices, and sowing doubt until people no longer know what’s real.

Western audiences, numbed by distance and constant crises, often tune out or cling to “both sides” narratives that make moral clarity seem naïve. It’s easier to believe the war is complicated than to face the brutal truth: a democratic nation is fighting for its survival against a colonial empire that still refuses to let go of its past.

So, what can we actually do?

1.Speak the truth.

Don’t stay silent. One of my favorite quotes is by Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood up against Hitler in the darkest times: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Speak about Ukrainian bravery and Russian atrocities. Tell the world what is happening – what Russia is doing to Ukrainian cities, civilians, and prisoners. Show what kind of price Ukrainians are paying for their freedom and for the right to live in peace.

Truth, consistently told, has power. Every post, every share, every small act of witness matters.

2.Be respectful.

It’s hard to stay calm when speaking about war, pain, and suffering. Here, my Christian faith gives me guidance. I never use profanity and try not to insult people, even when emotions run high.

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I’ve made mistakes in the past – I’ve spoken too harshly at times. But I keep learning. Because it matters not only what we say, but how we say it.

Our words can either invite others closer to the truth or push them away. Speak with conviction, but also with grace.

3.Write in English.

Since the beginning of the war, I’ve chosen to write all my posts in English. Ukrainians already know what’s happening – they live through it every day.

It’s the rest of the world that needs to hear. And the world doesn’t speak Ukrainian. Writing in English helps the truth travel further – into the hearts and minds of people who might otherwise never hear it.

4.Share personal stories.

Statistics inform, but stories move hearts. You don’t need to quote the Ministry of Defense or President Zelensky. Write from your own experience, or from what you’ve seen and felt. Say, “I’m a Ukrainian, and I’ve seen with my own eyes what Russia has done to us.”

One of my most viral posts seen by tens of millions across LinkedIn, Facebook, and X was a personal story – the testimony of a Mariupol survivor. People remember faces and names, not numbers.

5.Add a photo or video.

Images make words real. I always add a photo or video to my posts – something authentic, something that captures emotion. It could be a photo from the scene, a short video with English subtitles, or even a simple image with a message, “Don’t close your eyes.”

Visuals cut through indifference. They remind people that this isn’t history – it’s happening now.

6.Add a call to action.

Whenever possible, invite people to do something. Ask them to contact their representatives, sign a petition, donate to humanitarian causes, or simply share your post.

People often want to help – they just need to know how.

7.Join a community.

Don’t do it alone. Join or build a group of people who care about Ukraine. Work together. Choose one important story a day, and all share it at once – amplifying one another’s voices.

Unity creates momentum. A single post can be ignored; a chorus cannot.

Final thought

We live in an age of noise, but truth still breaks through when it’s spoken with courage and compassion.

Ukraine is not just fighting for its own freedom – it’s defending the moral clarity of the free world. When you speak, write, and share, you help the world remember that.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.