Voice of Ukraine

From: Ira Kapitonova from Kyiv, traveling in Prague (Day 632):

‭‭Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm‬ ‭32:10‬ ‭

Our time in the beautiful Prague is over. The overnight train is taking us to Ukraine, and by tomorrow night, we’ll be home.

This visit was filled with bittersweet moments. We’ve seen lots of love, and we felt care every step of the way. It was amazing to see so many Ukrainian flags posted as signs of support throughout the city. It was not just a time of learning (which was the original purpose of our visit) but also a time of rest, laughter, and encouragement.

However, there was a thing that made me think. I’ve shared in the previous couple of days that being outside of Ukraine highlighted how many abnormal things have become normal to us. We can joke about missiles, kamikaze drones, and blackouts. Yes, they worry us, but there’s little we can do about them, so we’ve learned to deal with them. During this trip, the topic of the war in Ukraine would come up in different conversations, and we noticed that sometimes it made people feel awkward because they didn’t know how to respond to these abnormal circumstances we live in or because they felt sorry for us. At times, I even wondered if I should mention something if it makes others feel uncomfortable. Surrounded by “normal” circumstances, it was easy to start feeling like something was wrong with us, like we were the problem. But, just as abuse victims must remember that the problem is not with them but with the abuser, we also need to be reminded of this truth.

Ukrainians suffer from this war started by Russia, but we chose to fight it because we value our freedom and dignity. We are scattered around the world, we hide in bomb shelters, and we learn to deal with blackouts and extended air raids (that are about to become very frequent), but it doesn’t mean that we need to be pitied. Yes, we ask for support and aid, but that’s because Russia needs to be stopped, and the truth needs to be upheld.
I hope I do not sound ungrateful with these words that I’m writing today because they are not meant for those who showered us with love and kindness this week, but I am the one who needs to remember them.