War in 140 Characters

I woke up and, as always, immediately checked my phone. What I saw astonished me: Twitter was reporting that Ukrainian forces had driven pro-Russia separatists from their stronghold in the nearby town of Sloviansk. The rebels were now fleeing to Donetsk, the self-proclaimed capital of the separatist enclave. Tweeted photos of the escaping convoy taken by passersby confirmed the story. I checked the BBC and other traditional news outlets for coverage but found nothing. The truth, however, was plain to see all around me: the city was in lockdown, its streets almost empty. Nobody was enjoying the weekend sunshine. I made my way to the city’s occupied central...