It is day 5 of the war in Ukraine and I can finally gather myself enough to write something.
As a Pole, a war in Eastern Europe affects me on a particularly deep emotional level. My Polish elders always said it was only a question of time until Russia attacks its western neighbours again. The history of Poland is linked to Ukraine on many levels, some of which were tragic, but one thing we have in common is a justified fear and resentment of the imperialist country that is Russia, including the time when it was called Soviet Union.
There isn’t enough importance put on how criminal Russia has been. Most people haven’t the slightest idea how far its crimes extend. There has never been a Nuremberg trial for the Soviet Union for the good reason that Russia after 1991 hadn’t changed much. To this day, Russia still hasn’t released all the files regarding the Katyń massacre.
Putin, a KGB trained President, showed his true colours very quickly, notably with the second Chechen war in 2000. The atrocities committed then should have already sent him to jail where he should still have been now. 2000 was the year I learned of the extent of his criminal potential and throughout the following years, I wrote two plays (La Tuerie du train Davos-Moscou, La Fleur du Maquis), one novel (Axmalama et moi) and numerous articles with him and/or the Chechen war as a subject. Unfortunately, Chechnya disappeared into the collective oblivion and he was never trialed for his crimes.
He first attacked Ukraine in 2014 and 5 days ago launched full force on the capital causing a massive exodus of refugees.
I felt so helpless and terrified at first but quickly learned of the incredible response of my country which opened their borders to all Ukrainians including their animal companions as well as third country nationals (over 200,000 people have crossed the border since Thursday). I also have a couple of groups of friends from different parts of Poland who drove to the border and, like so many of their fellow Poles, greeted people at the border with clothes, shoes and warm food as well as transportation and accommodation. Donating funds to them was the least I could do and made me feel a little bit more useful.
As the war continues, it is imperative people are aware of how pervasive Russian propaganda is and of the lies they spread. I have seen American friends of mine, who I am sure were well intentioned, post lies spread by people whom a quick search can link to RT or other Russian sites. One does not become an expert in Ukrainian and Eastern European affairs in 5 days. Check your sources before you post something. Check the sources of your sources. Russian propaganda is probably the best trained in the world, remember the Soviet Union? Americans especially are prone to believe that if someone is anti us imperialism they can be trusted. But one can be anti us imperialism and at the same time accidentally post pro russian imperialism content…
Of course there are other wars at the moment, of course there are other refugees as well. But talking about Ukraine doesn’t mean the rest of the world doesn’t matter. This is a world issue. To claim that focusing on Ukraine now is wrong is to play Russia’s game. Russia will find any way it can to plant the seed of doubt in people’s minds.
Free Ukraine. Free Europe. Free World. And may we have a Russian crimes trial soon.