Volodymyr, 03.04.22

Last year, my activist-colleagues and I analysed Putin’s article about history, where he explains why he wants to destroy Ukraine. We analysed it in detail and explained where there’s manipulation, and where there are lies, etc.

On the 21st of February, we planned to do the same with the live speech of Russia’s president, but something went wrong because EVERYTHING, absolutely every word of it was lies. At first, it was funny to us and then we got scared. Because what do you expect from the ruler of a nuclear state, who is just lying to the world.

On the 23rd of February, several of my acquaintances asked 'Will he invade?' And I confidently said: 'He will definitely invad, after the Monday’s speech, it is clear.'

…and on the 24th of February, the way it happened was even ironic:

In the evening, I went to bed in a country where an emergency state was announced and woke up in a country at war.

On that day (it was Thursday) I was going to 'pull some iron' at the gym, so a traditional breakfast that morning was not on the agenda, so I decided to sleep for an extra half an hour. So I did not pick up my smartphone to scroll the feed. That’s why I did not turn the TV on. That’s why I just got on the bus and while still half asleep I was listening to the strange dialogues:

-they bombed the airport

-it’s burning

-martial law

…this is how the war started and I can recreate that morning by a minute. And the next weeks were a blur: calls…searches…calls…contacts…volunteering…the first refugees…the school, which became a refugee shelter…volunteering…searches…calls…contacts…

The history of Ukrainian-Russian wars - it is not about just one month and not even about 8 years, it is a century long struggle. And finally, in the 21st century, the world is not indifferent to our fate. We have an opportunity to finally break all of the possible connections with those who wish for our death and live freely, without looking back into the past.