To try and make sense of why we have "war tour operators" making large sums of money from the violent deaths of Ukrainian civilians, we must look more closely at what money really means here.
Should it be earned fairly and legally? Or should one have the right to do anything (to anyone) to get what one wants? The latter does seem to be the case. It's not "dark tourism", it's abuse that plays into the hands of russian propagandists.
There has always been corruption in Ukraine, on a par or worse than in many African countries where people are starving. Suspicion of other peoples' livelihood is standard. Envy? Perhaps. Money in Ukraine has a life of its own and it's more divisive here than anywhere else in the world.
Millions of dollars, perhaps over a billion dollars of humanitarian aid sent to help Ukraine during russia's full-scale invasion has gone missing.
Crateloads of donated materials from Europe to help rebuild destroyed lives have been stolen.
Thousands of weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition disappeared into thin air within hours of crossing the border.
The Ministry of Defence has repeatedly bought low-quality ammunition, body armour, helmets, and related protective battlefield equipment from Europe at low prices, having been paid ten times more in advance by the government. It's embezzlement and it has put the lives of thousands of defenders in mortal danger.
There are countless cases of customs violations, goods entering Ukraine labelled "humanitarian / military aid" that are anything but.
Who is deceiving, stealing, and why? Facts have made it clear that local government officials are complicit and they collude with criminal gangs.
President Zelensky is passing new anti-corruption laws every month but is constantly firing, or at least replacing his once trusted colleagues for acts of brazen corruption.
With corruption in total control, the chances of Ukraine acceding to the EU are light years away, and everyone outside Ukraine knows it. No one in Ukraine seems to get it.
Realtors (we call them "maklers") are using the consequences of war to make even more money. Their rental offers are criminally high and they demand the highest possible commission rates for effectively doing nothing. This when our cities are flooded with people who are desperate for affordable accommodation.
Normal people working in real estate would make cheap accommodation available for refugees in war with no questions, but no, this is Ukraine.
Lviv maklers are notorious. Odious. They created their own group on Facebook called "No Makler" (???). From there, they abuse their compatriots every day, compatriots who are forced to jump through hoops between hostels and cheap hotels as they can't afford to pay commission.
This is not the place to deliberate about the endemic corruption, greed and profiteering that defines modern Ukraine. In the context of tourism in Ukraine, we know that In Lviv Tours must make a stand and support those in need by putting other people first.
For us to be able to contribute during war, and most probably for years thereafter, is as much a pleasure as it is a vocation.
There is a responsibility that comes with working in wartime and no one is exempt.
Final word. The "war tour operators" in Kyiv and elsewhere, the maklers of Lviv, to the front!
✍ by Pete G on April 17th, 2024.