A historian’s view on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the countless voices of Ukrainians who are fighting to make Europe ‘whole and safe’.
From: The Ukrainian by Олеся Хромейчук
Like a young, pretty woman who gets murdered at the beginning of a crime novel, Ukraine became an object of interest because of the act of aggression directed against it. It has gained worldwide visibility because Russia has tried to make it invisible. Being seen, however, is not the same as being understood. To truly understand Ukraine, we need to listen to Ukrainians talk about themselves in their own words and on their own terms. We must trust them with their knowledge of themselves and challenge our own imperialist worldview. After all, it is the habit of listening to a ‘great power’ that has led us to focus on the perpetrator when we should be focusing on the nations it is attacking. It has led us to confuse Russia with the country we wish it were rather than the one it really is and pushed us to focus our energies on ensuring Russia’s survival rather than preparing for its demise.
Every time I’m invited to speak about Ukraine, I notice an unmistakable pattern of discussion: sooner or later (usually sooner), someone asks me to talk about Russia.
Why is the Russian army performing so poorly (and not why the Ukrainian army is doing so well against all odds)?
What needs to happen for Russian society to take to the streets and protest (rather than what has made Ukrainians so intolerant of authoritarianism and determined to fight against it)?
Voice of Ukraine 