A Republican lawmaker in Arizona has made Ukraine’s list of political enemies.
Republican State Representative Alexander Kolodin announced his addition to the list, which was last updated in May, on X. Kolodin announced his inclusion as a cause for celebration.
“I did it! I’m officially on Ukraine’s enemies list for not wanting my kids to get nuked over some country that isn’t ours!” wrote Kolodin.
I did it! I’m officially on Ukraine’s enemies list for not wanting my kids to get nuked over some country that isn’t ours! pic.twitter.com/sZ0UILKmO5
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) July 10, 2024
The list was created by a Ukrainian outlet, Texty, as a means of identifying and tracking prominent public figures impeding U.S. aid to Ukraine by their rhetoric or actions, whether they be citizens or lawmakers. The U.S. government has funded Texty: its founder, Anatoly Bondarenko, was an instructor for a State Department program, “TechCamp,” that trained foreign journalists, NGOs, and activists.
Texty and their Ukrainian allies have denied Texty receiving direct funding from the U.S. government, though it indicated that it does receive funds from middle men entities such as aid agencies. Texty has denied that their list constitutes a list of enemies to Ukraine.
The outlet was cofounded in 2010 by Bondarenko and freelance interpreter Roman Kulchynskyi (now editor-in-chief). Disrupting Kulchynskyi’s relatively low online profile are pictures of him with high-profile world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a World Bank delegation meeting over four years ago.
Kulchynski was appointed last November as one of 15 onto the Prize Committee for the Google-backed Sigma Awards for data journalism, alongside Sarah Cohen from Arizona State University as well as the likes of The New York Times, University of Miami, Stanford University, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, and Reuters.
Last November, Kolodin dropped HB2181, the “Defend the Guard Act,” a proposed bill to prohibit the National Guard from being called into active duty combat without an official action by Congress or the Arizona legislature.
“My constituents want you on the border General. Not in Ukraine, not in Russia. The Arizona border.” pic.twitter.com/OwMK38KW3e
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) October 19, 2023
HB2181 described the nation’s repeat war engagements at the behest of the executive branch as an unconstitutional exercise of authority, citing the Constitution’s directive that Congress have power over war.
“Although the United States Congress has not declared war in over seventy years, the United States has since gone to war repeatedly at the wim of the executive branch,” read the bill. “When unconstitutional actions are taken by the federal government, it is the proper role of the states themselves to take action to remedy the situation as outlined in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798.”
Arizonans want the AZ national guard on our border, not Ukraine’s. That’s why I’m bringing back #defendtheguard legislation. Don’t call it a comeback! pic.twitter.com/tLWjaNC2MF
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) November 28, 2023
Yesterday I re-filed #defendtheguard, because we need the Arizona National Guard on our border, not Ukraine’s! Ready for round two @TenthAmendment? pic.twitter.com/X7FxtZ6B4u
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) January 10, 2024
Last September, Kolodin wrote that neither Ukraine or Taiwan weren’t worth the risk of nuclear war with Russia or China, due to their “small impact” on America.
“War is the best excuse ever invented to take your money and freedom,” posted Kolodin. “Let me be clear – I wish Ukraine well but I don’t really give a rip what happens there. Unlike most Dems I’ve got kids I don’t particularly wish to see nuked!”
Hard truths:
1. Because of nuclear weapons neither China/Russia poses a conventional military threat.
2. Ukraine/Taiwan are not worth even a minimal risk of nuclear war. They have only a small impact on us.
3. War is the best excuse ever invented to take your $ and freedom.— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) September 28, 2023
