Modern Ukraine, unfortunately, remains in the shadow of historical stereotypes and political games that are formed in the good old Europe. In the conditions of modernity, when the world is changing faster than ever, many issues remain unresolved, and decisions made are often based on old ideas and geopolitical interests.
In both cases, there is always a stronger one, for whom the rules differ from the general ones. This vicious circle is somewhat reminiscent of the realities of the times of estate monarchies, when everyone has defined and prescribed roles, there is an established order of things, and any changes are anomalies. Only Ukrainians in this coordinate system do not sit still. They turn everything upside down and look for their place under the sun every now and then. At least recently, notes the publication ZAXID.net.
In Ukrainian history textbooks, we have been observing the image of the disenfranchised Ukrainian people for decades. Oppression, Polonization, Russification, oppression… However, the world is somewhat different. It is unpredictable and unjust, contains a lot of meanness and inconsistency. However, without even noticing this, we live next to amazing people. They are worthy of admiration and books written about them, films made. Challenging the established order and injustice, long-standing propaganda clichés is the credo of many of our compatriots. Actually, this is the path to Ukraine gaining subjectivity. Not everyone likes it, but there is no other way.
Reality and tales of Grandpa Diarrhea
The proclamation of an independent Ukraine took place de facto and legally, but it did not reach the consciousness of people (often Ukrainians themselves) immediately. For a long time, we were perceived as Russians, and many Ukrainians saw themselves as such. Both used strange and ephemeral constructs like “Russians”. They believed that they were talking about everyone who lived in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.
About those who, in their perception, by chance and circumstances, did not become part of the Russian Federation. At the same time, they also mention some "Russia". However, "Russia" itself has never existed. There are people in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. who consider themselves "Russian" and see a connection with "Russia" in this, but the name of that state in the swamps is the Russian Federation. Before that, there was the USSR. Even before that, there was the Russian Empire. Before that, Muscovy. "Russia" did not exist and does not exist now. There is Ukraine, Belarus, and the Russian Federation. "Russia" is only in the schemes of Russian propagandists.
It is profitable for them to spread nonsense about Prince Vladimir, the “ruler of Russia,” or about a single historical path and a common cradle, that is, lies about Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians, who are supposedly one people. They invest a lot of money in this, their propaganda blares about it nonstop, arbitrarily interpreting the events of the past in a way that is beneficial to them.
"Studies" in this spirit are written in the Russian Federation, in the West, and here too. Until recently, this was generally the dominant political narrative when talking about Eastern Europe. This space was considered a Russian sphere of influence. Such a matrix, established and ingrained, but built on lies and injustice, did not provide for corrections and suited everyone. In some places, people are still afraid to step back from such thinking. For example, in the West.
Dialogue with "Stalin's children"
The actions and position of the Russian Federation can be explained if one is aware of the political obscurantism that is rampant there. The imperial diarrhea that is inherent in politics, elites and a significant part of their population. The behavior of the civilized world is strange.
Constantly appealing to rational thinking and universal human values, the collective West has never dared to question the fabrications propagated by the Russians. Even though not all of them are historical or neutral. Most are xenophobic and contradict Western values, and a significant part is political and openly directed against Europe.
However, this never worried anyone. The arrogant Russians were distinguished by their arrogance and meanness, wherever fate threw them. Bias and despotism gushed from Russian authorities at the international level. Everything suited everyone. This was perceived as the norm. “Stalin’s children” can do it. Only when the Russians’ hands were up to their elbows in blood did a sufficient part of the world understand that this could not go on any longer.
Although we cannot criticize the world for ideological immaturity or lack of principles. Even after the declaration of independence, many Ukrainians believed Russian propaganda for a long time, watched Russian films, and listened to music copied by Russians.
Ukrainian products were considered of poor quality and did not notice that Russian products were poisoned by propaganda and contempt for everything human. The scale of these processes was such that it felt as if a warm bath was being prepared for us. The goal was another Belarus, that is, a depoliticized desert, with whose inhabitants you can do whatever you want. Then conscious Ukrainians took the floor.
From 2004 to the present, Ukrainians have repeatedly changed the course of history. These were internal issues. Like the challenge to the results of the 2004 elections. The events were large-scale. Like the Revolution of Dignity and the repulsion of Russian aggression, which came into the field of view of the whole world.
This moment is often behind the scenes, but Ukrainians have repeatedly taken the initiative in their own hands at the most unexpected moments and changed the established order. This has destroyed the "agreements" and thwarted the plans of politicians who "solve" issues in a Chamberlain-like manner.
When it seemed that there was no way out, Ukrainians had their say. The Soviet Union was brought down, and in particular, the Russians. For example, when Boris Yeltsin called on his supporters to go out to protests. However, the USSR was buried, among other things, by the Ukrainians, who voted for independence in a referendum in December 1991. Later, this card became Leonid Kravchuk's political trump card.
The democratic protests of Ukrainians in 2004 allowed Viktor Yushchenko, perhaps the most successful prime minister in the history of our country, to restore justice and become president. Ukrainians changed the course of events during the Revolution of Dignity and during the criminal aggression of the Russian Federation against our country. In the first case, they did not expect such unity and will from us, in the second - resilience.
Unfortunately, Ukrainian society has failed to transform any of these unexpected maneuvers into systemic and consistent political reforms that would create effective state bodies, fair courts, and equal rules for all.
Another jump…
At the moment of the proclamation of Ukraine's state independence in 1991, there was a factor of surprise and disruption of established order. The factor of surprise also worked during the events of 2004, 2013-2014, and also in 2022. During the Orange Revolution, bandits from the Party of Regions did not believe in the potential and self-organization of Ukrainians, who wanted to come to power by falsifying the elections.
During the Revolution of Dignity, Ukrainians shook the whole world, showing the most democratic countries, whose elites had forgotten the meaning of the words "values" and "democracy", what will, principles and originality are. By blocking the path of Putin's plague, Ukrainians shattered the cynical plans and expectations of the collective West about the occupation of part of Ukraine by Russian troops and the subsequent guerrilla war in these territories.
An example of sudden and unexpected actions by Ukrainians can be considered the operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region. We still do not know for sure what the goals of this operation were and in what context the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sees these events, but this offensive came as a surprise to people in Ukraine, the West, and Russia.
There was a lot of criticism of the Ukrainian side's operation. However, it is undeniable that it lifted the spirits and gave hope to the Ukrainians. No less important is that these sudden large-scale actions dispelled a number of myths of Russian propaganda. The Gordian knot of sentiment in the West was also cut, which, it seems, began to look for ways to reconcile the parties - even through significant concessions from Ukraine.
The Kursk operation is ongoing and has certain positive consequences for the Ukrainian side. However, the euphoria from it has subsided. Above us again is the threat of freezing the war on uncertain (consider – unfavorable for Ukraine) conditions. The West is gradually returning to the policy of arm-twisting and running between droplets.
Once again, Ukrainians have turned everything upside down, but will this benefit our country in the long term? Situational breaking of the pattern works, but not for as long as we would like. It is obvious that neither winning a war nor building effective state institutions can be achieved by situational leaps.
Ukrainians have had many opportunities to see this for themselves. Both require a strategic and thoughtful plan, a vision. If this is not the case, we will continue to experience swings in mood and expectations. A swing between euphoria that reaches the clouds and an unbearable routine that drags us to the bottom. We, of course, hope for the former, but at some point the latter may prevail.
Yevhen Hulyuk
