The history of Russian abuse of Ukraine

[hello1234]

Very few people here know about the painful history Ukraine had with Russia. The narrative of “deep historical and cultural ties” between Ukraine and Russia is nothing but pure propaganda. It is similar to saying that Jews and Nazi Germany have “deep historical and cultural ties”. 

All the ties Ukraine had with Russia over the past ~350 years were mostly about:

1. Wars, Ukraine fighting for it’s independence

2. Genocides by Russia (Holodomor, Crimean Tatar deportation)

3. Russian persecution of Ukrainian culture and language

4. Persecution of Ukrainian intelligentsia and dissidents 

5. Tragedies (like Chernobyl)

6. Shortages (during the “better” period of life in USSR)

7. Unfulfilled or distorted agreements (starting from 1654)

If you do not think of a rapist and his victim as “family”, then you shouldn’t think of Russians and Ukrainians as “brother nations”

Those who condemn Ukrainian nationalism  also don’t understand this “nationalism” is Ukrainian pride for enduring so much bloodshed and still standing strong. It is similar to the pride black people have for overcoming their historical hardships. Or sorrow Jewish people have due to their painful history. 

Ukrainians have been fighting for their independence for centuries, it’s even in our anthem:

“The glory and freedom of Ukraine has not yet perished
Luck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.
Our enemies will die, as the dew does in the sunshine,
and we, too, brothers, we'll live happily in our land.

We’ll not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom
and we’ll prove that we brothers are of Kozak kin.”

Same with our national symbolics that has the word “freedom” (Ukrainian “Воля”) in it.

My old neighbour was from Eastern Ukraine and a Holodomor (death by starvation) survivor. Her 2 brothers and both parents were starved to death while she managed to survive due to her older sister working and living in a Soviet camp diner. Her sister would steal small pieces of food, escape at night and hide them under a tree for my neighbour to pick it up. She couldn’t steal much, because if the soviets found out, she would be persecuted and put to death.

It is believed that about 3.5 million to 7 million Ukrainians died of this artificial man-made famine within a year (1932-1933) while some estimate 10 million. The Ukrainian population was then replaced with Russians (which is why Eastern Ukraine has more Russian speakers) in a process referred to as Russification. 

Note that I don’t blame people here for not knowing Ukrainian history, I don’t know history of other cultures well too. 

 

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by hello1234