Russians and Ukrainians are not brothers any more.

Article for Polish daily "Gazeta Wyborcza"

source: http://wyborcza.pl/1,75477,15581798,Rosjanie_i_Ukraincy_to_juz_nie_bracia___Umarla_we.html#BoxSlotIMT

Russians and Ukrainians are not brothers any more.
"Ability to forgive has died in me"

Childlike openness and naivete of Ukrainians has died. Men stand in lines to be enlisted to the army. Women are ready to dig trenches, guard anti-tank blockades and carry the wounded - wrote in her angry letter Krystyna Dobrowolska, young journalist from Kharkiv. It reflects mood in Ukraine well.

"I don't feel fear any more. Fear and uncertainty appeared in the first hours, when the sheer idea of Russian attack was unconceivable. In the last 3 days ability to forgive died in me. I cannot forgive my brother's friend (Russian), who called him on Skype over weekend and told him, that joyfully he can come to Ukraine, to pack Ukrainian dead bodies into coffins. I cannot forgive him that"

The above is the fragment of text written by a twenty-something journalist Krystyna Dobrowolska from Kharkiv. She published it on 4 March on the pages of Ukrainskaya Pravda. The article has a form of "letter to Andrei" from Russian Belgogorod, who has spent 6 years in Kharkiv.

Why Andrei wants to pack Ukrainian dead bodies to coffins? It's an effect of Putin's propaganda, to which big portion of Russian society has fallen. To them Maidan are fascists and banderovites, who dream about extermination of Russians and Jews. To most Ukrainians this is unbelievable bullshit, but Russians believe it. That's how belief that Russians and Ukrainians are brothers dies.

***

From the Letter of Krystyna to Andrei:
"Childlike openness and naivete of Ukrainians has died. Men stand in lines to be enlisted to the army to defend the weak. Unlike you, they will defend Ukrainians, Russians, Crimea Tatars, Jews and Georgians. Here are no strangers, everyone is from here. Only you, Andrei, are a stranger."

Even though Krystyna wrote her letter with passion and in anger, she didn't exagerrate. In Ukraine, after Russian aggression mass mobilization was announced and enlistment points have big lines. Soon it turned out that for now there is no need, Ukrainian army has full personnel and for now it is just in readiness.

***

My Polish friend was in shock, because after the announcement of Russian aggression, he called his friend in Kyiv. "Just after the mobilization, Nazar reported to enlistment point, where they gave him uniform and sent home because for now they dont need soldiers." he told me. However they told him to report to Maidan selfdefence, to patrol the streets. After the fall of Yanukovych, state militia disappeared and self-defence took over its duties. So Nazar started patrols with his friend. And he has 2 faculties, knows 3 languages...

Andrei Parubiy, National Security and Defence Council secretary, called for joining medical services in case of war. Only on the first day after his call, 6 thousand people reported to largest Kyiv's clinic.

***

Admiral Igor Kabenenko, ex-vice chair of General Staff of Ukrainian Army, fired by Victor Yanukovych (now he advises the new authorities) judges that Ukrainian Army is well prepared to face military aggression, both in border defence and in case of prolonged conflict.

We have - he said - a great potential of well trained people, which can help to form second wall(?) in case of need to defend the interior of the country. Experience from the wars that were part of this land teaches that we have enough courage.

If someone thinks that you can put this nation to the knees, then he is wrong. This is a thuggery. So when some people claim that the army is not ready to repel the aggression, then they are deeply wrong. This talk that we have bad army must stop. - he ended.

From the letter of Krystyna to Andrei:

Women get ready to serve in construction battalions, medical services and field kitchens. Also to dig trenches, guard anti-tank blockades, carry wounded, prepare and distribute food. Women do it because they have children, and they want them to live in a free country.

***

After heavenly sotnia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotnia), which refers to those who were killed in Maidan, the new heroes of Ukraine are officers and soldiers of the fleet. Except for one - none of them betrayed - despite pressure, requests and threats from Black Sea Fleet commanders.

Those who are cut off by Russian blockades are fed by families and Crimea tatars. The supporters of keeping unity with Ukraine are increasingly eager to protest Russian occupation.

When the crew of Ukrainian ship Tarnopol heard the call to surrender, their leader responded "Russians don't surrender".
"What do you mean by ' Russians don't surrender ' " - Russian superior was surprised.
"Even though my name is Yemieliachenko, I have Russian roots. I made my vows once in life and I will not break them" responded the Ukrainian.
"This is the officer, you should all be like him" said the Russian.

***

The invasion army in Crimea is made up of North Caucasian Military District. Several days ago new troops were being added: from non-Russian republics of Russian Federation. There is increasing fear among Russians that Russians and Ukrainians will not shoot each other. Non-Slavs are also easier to use to pacify the population.

From the letter of Krystyna to Andrei:

Our home is here. Our dream is not district of Putin's Russia on territory without a name. Our dream is free, united, indivisible Ukraine. And know, Andrei, you cannot take this dream away from us. This dream will exist even if millions of us will be put in the ground

***

In the cities of east and south of Ukraine there have been pro-independence marches and gatherings for weeks. On Sunday, there have been 20 thousand people in the streets of Odessa, even though this city had opinion of being "aside of Ukraine". The crowd was singing patriotic songs and shouted anti-Putin slogans. The city council condemned Russian invasion. It was similar in Dnepropetrovsk, Nikolajov, Kherson and Kharkiv. 31 university rectors of Kharkiv condemned it too, in the city size of Warsaw, with traditionally strong ties with Russia.

On Wednesday in Donetsk, in the march of unity, there was 10 thousand people. For this city it's a great number, as for the long time for the local euromaidan there was max 200 people. Those were considered particularly brave people, since Donbas is the stronghold of the Regions Party and Victor Yanukovych.

One of the protesters said: "Middle class people came, lecturers, students, all families with children came. It was serious and solemn, but joyful. God, I thought, if we are so many, where have we been for so many years?"

Putin called Ukraine 'territory', not a country. He considers Ukrainians as one nation with Russians. He's just learning how wrong he was. Against this unified against him Ukraine, his dream of renewed empire - crashes.