Voice of Ukraine

From Ira Kapitonova near Kyiv (Day 531):

I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.
Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.
Psalm 81:14‭-‬15

I remember this day 15 years ago (08/08/2008). We were celebrating our friend’s wedding, but the discussion at our table largely revolved around the events developing in Georgia. It was evident that Russia invaded a sovereign state, so I was confused why many officials were saying it wasn’t that simple and kept repeating some absurd excuses. I remember many experts saying that Georgia was a “trial run” and Ukraine was bound to be next. I dismissed those opinions as invasion seemed too unlikely to me at the time. I still lived in a world where wars were impossible in Europe in the 21st century.

Unfortunately, we saw the events repeat themselves in 2014 when Russia occupied Crimea and the east of Ukraine. Same absurd excuses and propaganda, same cynicism, same disregard for human life. Even then, I refused to believe the war would spread further into the territory of Ukraine. I refused to believe it until about 5 am on February 24, 2022.

Today, I read in the news that Poland is going to increase the number of border guards at the border with Belarus to be ready to prevent possible provocations after Wagner mercenaries are relocated to Belarus. Another report said that Latvia is going into enhanced security mode at the border with Belarus for the same reason.

Having read these reports today, on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Georgia, I was struck with the realization that Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus today are in the same position as Ukraine was in 2008. You know what’s happening, but it’s too horrible to imagine it could happen to you. Fifteen years ago, the world didn’t do enough to prevent history from repeating itself in a new location. Will we do enough today to prevent the war from spreading into Poland and the Baltic states, no matter how unlikely it might seem to some?