Voice of Ukraine

From: Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (1114th day)
I agree wholeheartedly with what Paul Linscott wrote in his post:

“From what I can understand, there is no “so easy to do!” deal which will enable lasting peace for Ukraine. There are so many painful needs to be addressed and in the end, there is a fundamental need for a change in russia’s mindset regarding their pursuit of imperialist expansion through invasion, terror, destruction and death. If this core thinking is not abandoned, then it is only a matter of time and strategic opportunity for russia before they attack again.
I am thankful for any step or effort in the direction of peace, including this week’s dialogue between Ukraine and US in pursuit of a 30 day cease-fire, if russia will comply. I am thankful for the restored US aid and US intel to Ukraine which never should have been shut off as a means of leverage. I want to be optimistic and hopeful and be ready for the miraculous possibility of a sudden answer to my prayer for the past 3 years, which is that russia will truly stop terrorizing Ukrainian people. I want to believe that this can come soon and even unexpectedly. I do believe it can because I believe in miracles and that God is both truly good and sovereign and that He hears and answers prayer.
I also recognize that an answer to the prayer for true peace for Ukrainian families necessarily includes so much more than a cease-fire.
One thing which is needed desperately is the safe return of so many Ukrainians who have been kidnapped and are being held against their will by russia, often tortured in prison if they refuse to disavow their Ukrainian identity, often forcibly relocated to places in russia far away from their homes after having been stripped of identification papers, money and cell phones. Of the many Ukrainian civilians being held prisoner by russia, there are almost 20,000 children who have been systematically kidnapped, and illegally disappeared into russia under the guise of “protecting children from war” (which russia brings to Ukraine). In addition to Ukraine’s confirmed numbers, estimated numbers are much higher. Identifying documents are routinely destroyed by russia, and new names are assigned to Ukrainian children who are then put up for adoption in russia. Ukrainians still living under occupation and attack have very little means of getting help to find and recover their missing children. Systematic forced abductions are immediately followed by cultural and military indoctrination in russian camps and schools which serve to simultaneously destroy Ukrainian identity as well as begin training kidnapped Ukranian youth to prepare for russian military service. Teenagers are being brainwashed, groomed and trained to eventually return to Ukraine, not to be reunited with their families in peace, but to kill Ukrainians and then die for russian imperialism.
Zelensky brought up the 20,000 confirmed kidnappings of children in the Oval Office meeting with Trump as well as the horrendous treatment by russia of Ukrainian POWs. Both matters have come up again at this week’s Ukraine – US talks. I do hope for peace and I also recognize that this matter of abducted Ukrainians of every age, but especially the thousands upon thousands of children, is one of many matters that will require a just resolution in order for any lasting peace to come.
“All the cards” or “no cards”, a community’s commitment to finding and protecting their loved ones, and a parent’s fighting love for their own child, is no game of “cards”. It will never be a game or a matter of numbers and odds – for those who have had their loved ones taken away from them. (see the link in the first comment for a PBS Frontline documentary from 10 months ago about some of these families)
Can lasting peace come to Ukraine? Perhaps there is a possibility if Ukrainian POWs and the thousands of Ukrainian children and adults are released and returned home. And if russia stops violently invading, occupying and attacking their homes. But russia would need to comply and facilitate this. I know that as a parent, I would never stop fighting to find and return my own children. I couldn’t give them over to anyone as a “concession”.
The hard truth is that so far russia has ONLY facilitated kidnapping, torture, rape, destruction and death and I don’t see how they can comply with real peace apart from first rejecting the violent imperialist mindset which has brought this invasion to Ukrainian land, which is the cause of all of this to begin with. When will russia prove that they want peace? when they reject their ideology which has produced such evil and then bear actual fruit in keeping with repentance.”