From: Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 902)
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Psalm 2:10-11
I saw several posts today, and they stuck with me.
There was a book written by a historian and journalist, Vakhtang Kipiani, about Vasyl Stus, a Ukrainian poet persecuted and destroyed by the Soviet regime. A good friend of Putin tried to ban this book in 2020, which, of course, immediately encouraged everyone to get a copy. Today, Kipiani shared a few stories of people who had his book and whose homes are occupied by Russians. One family said they buried the book in their yard, along with the Ukrainian flag and other significant books, before leaving. Another woman said her book was confiscated when the Russians searched her home, yet she hopes they will return home with a new copy one day.
A Ukrainian translator and author, Ostap Slyvynsky, shared another story. He remembered that his grandmother’s brother was sent to Siberia for being in the insurgent army and fighting against the Soviets. He was never allowed to return to Ukraine, so he settled in Belgorod (Russia). His descendants still live there, but they consider themselves Russians and support this insane war. Slyvynsky is amazed by the cruel irony that resulted from the evil Soviet policy (continued by Russia today).
These two posts made me think about the importance of preserving our memory, passing it on to our children, and finding ways to share this truth with the children growing up under occupation.
I know that truth will prevail, yet we must do our part to defend it.
Voice of Ukraine 