Dr. Joseph Jack Place🇬🇧 🇺🇦
joejplace.bsky.social
Dr. Joseph Jack Place🇬🇧 🇺🇦
@joejplace.bsky.social
Englishman living in Zakarpattia.
PhD graduate in Political Theory
Also interested in Ukraine, Eastern Europe
Podcast co host "The Think Tank" https://shows.acast.com/nafo-think-tank
Blog at jjplace.co.uk
Some pics
July 23, 2025 at 7:20 PM
In rivne, about 200 people + protested the new law regarding NABU. Young, old, families. Cars supporting. Positive atmosphere. This is a significant moment.
July 23, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Help defenders in the assault brigade in the GUR. They have a damaged vehicle, essential for moving supplies. Any donation can help! You did it before!
🎯Goal: 45 000.00 ₴ (1087 USD)
🔗Mono jar
send.monobank.ua/jar/873rn4AeuA
PP: jonathan@ukr.net
💳UA card payments
4441 1111 2431 8795
May 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I cannot get hold of my friends in kyiv which is under attack. Fuck Russia.
May 23, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Oh, fun fact, Andy Warhol and Milton Friedman both have connections to this region. A chief Rabbi is from Uzhhorod, and there’s a film set in Zakarpattia called My Thoughts Are Silent, you should watch it. It has English subtitles. Statues of Warhol and Friedman in Uzhhorod:
May 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Note Zakarpattia has had one airstrike since 2022 in the mountains on a factory, though missiles have flown overhead a few times and diverted. I’d bet this is deliberate, to not jeopardise support for Hungary/Russia (which doesn’t exist, but they think it does).
May 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Orban has often been convinced that Zakarpattians feel oppressed and dream of being Hungarian again. However, Hungary's response to the invasion alienated much of the Hungarian-speaking population, many of whom now identify more so as Ukrainian.
May 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
When the Nazis took Czechoslovakia, Ukrainians took it as an opportunity to form the Carpatho-Ukraine Republic. It lasted 1 day, as Hungarians came and attacked, and it was part of Hungary for the duration of the war. After WW2, the Soviets claimed it for the Ukrainian SSR.
May 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Like most of western Ukraine, it was part of Austro-Hungary historically. After WWI, the region was incorporated into Czechoslovakia. They developed a lot of infrastructure; you may see many buildings in the region reminiscent of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
May 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Where is Zakarpattia/Transcarpathia? It's the country's most south-western oblast. Half is mountainous, and the rest is flatter (the region's name means “beyond the mountains”). It’s the 1 oblast to border four countries: Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.
May 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The IMF hate this man. Reduce your debt with one simple trick.
May 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Can I offer you a nice #cat in this trying time?
April 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This is connected to an IRL friends brothers unit. Recently, the 109th Brigade of the Donetsk Regional Defense Command, lost vehicles in one mission. They need new equipment and are raising money for a Grand Cherokee. Donate below:

🎯 The fundraising goal is 330,000 UAH.
April 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Easter weekend in Uzhhorod. Sakuras, sunshine and calm.
April 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The strange thing in uzhhorod, on the Slovakian border, is that you can see planes and it's simply normal flights going over Slovakia/Hungary. An invisible line dividing lands at peace and one at war.
April 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Oh yeah also McDonald's opened lol
April 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Today in uzhhorod there is a street fair with raffles to fund the local defenders, local foods like cheeses, honey, and wine. Shashlik and trout. People help make netting for soldiers. The sun is out. Drunk cherry has a stall. Soldiers are enjoying time off among families.
April 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A neighbourhood cat in Uzhhorod, he was a bit sick when we left for south America but he survived the winter and actually looks better!
April 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
March 30, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The ghosts of Churchill and other alcoholic politicians Vs Hegseth
March 28, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Civil freedoms: the EU has certain key civil liberty requirements, and I am an advocate for letting people live their own lives so long as they do not hurt anyone else. One pressing matter is LGBT people, as so many have fought and died for Ukraine without the same rights 7/9
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Democratisation: Ukraine has to improve its democracy. I highlight some issues with the oligarchal domination, corruption, and the issues around peacetime civil society and the lack of involvement in local politics. 6/9
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It’s the economy, stupid: Ukraine has so much economic potential, but it is hampered by bureaucracy, oligarchs, inequality in salaries, and other issues. Ukraine is set on marketisation, however, some institutional and other reforms are necessary to help. 4/9
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Linguistic laws: While Ru and Hungary love to over exaggerate Ukraine’s language laws as oppressive, for UA to join the EU, some consideration for minority languages (not Russian) will need adjusting. The right, sensitive approach can promote Ukrainian and adhere to EU rules 3/9
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
You can read my new blog on the post-war decisions, challenges, and debates that face Ukraine. Some of this is well known, other, less so. However, we have to talk about the future to ensure Ukraine becomes a stronger democratic nation. Summary here, link in next skeet1/9
#ukraine #ukrainianpolitics
March 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM