The art of solidarity

Not one but two massive displays of solidarity against terrorism and for peace in Ukraine were held in Kyiv on January 18. The immediate reason for them was the January 13 tragedy in Volnovakha, where terrorists fired at a Ukrainian checkpoint, which resulted in a Grad rocket exploding near a passenger bus and killing 13 civilians.

Of course, these marches are needed, but given that we have people dying in the Donbas daily, such events may well be made permanent. However, the idea of the January 18 march came from Paris and was a sort of copycat of the French event, where a march to commemorate those killed in the attacks from January 7-9 was held on January 11, with its main slogan being “Je Suis Charlie,” that is, “I am Charlie.” In his address on January 13, the president of Ukraine even said that “the mass killings in Paris and Volnovakha are parts of the same pattern.”

However, it was very strange to see two separate events held in the center of Kyiv on the same day and aiming to unite Ukrainians in the fight against the military-terrorist threat from the Kremlin. “The fact that two marches were held is a testament to short-sightedness of Ukrainian politicians, as it is very difficult to see how a bifurcation would make the solidarity march better,” political expert Yevhen Mahda told The Day. “This is not a double-barreled gun that shoots better. Solidarity implies unity. You see, the demonstration of solidarity is an art of its own. The way in which these events were held in Ukraine on January 18 shows that Ukrainian politicians have not mastered this art yet,” the expert summed up.

COMMENTARIES

“OUR COUNTRY IS THE OUTPOST OF EUROPE THAT MEETS THE FIRST ONSLAUGHT OF THE TERRORISTS, AND DEFENDS THE ENTIRE CONTINENT, AS WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE”

 Oleh SAAKIAN, political scientist, head of the Donbas Joint Coordination Center:

“I see this event as symbolic. The victims of the terrorist attack in Volnovakha represent the Ukrainian people who are now suffering from the terrorists in eastern regions. Everyone has relatives across the country, we are one, and all Ukrainians suffer from the sudden, unjust, ruthless, bloody aggression launched by Vladimir Putin. We really need this march as an indicator of the Ukrainian nation’s peaceful strength, which is ready to fight for its freedom despite all. It is significant that representatives of almost all political forces have come together here without party symbols.

“My poster says ‘I am Volnovakha.’ Honestly, it would be probably more accurate to say ‘I am Ukraine,’ because all of Ukraine is now in Volnovakha’s situation, as it is suffering from the aggression. Our country is the outpost of Europe that meets the first onslaught of the terrorists, and defends the entire continent, as we have always done.”

“I AM EXPERIENCING UNITY AT THIS MARCH”

 Ihor, Donetsk resident:

“I had to come to this event. I am patriotic Ukrainian. I am experiencing unity at this march and feeling very sorry for my home region. I have spent six months amid this horror of war, and the tragedy in Volnovakha came as another blow to my heart, another soul-breaking news. My countrypeople are dying as are Ukrainian soldiers, and it is a great misfortune. I hope all this will end soon.”

“WE NEED TO BE HERE, FOR OTHERWISE, WE WILL BE ASHAMED AFTERWARDS”

 Anatolii SOLTUS, scientist and motorist:

“I have lived a long life, graduated from an institute, served in the army, worked, went abroad, and got my doctorate. I consider it my duty to myself and God to come to this event at this crucial moment. We need to be here, for otherwise, we will be ashamed afterwards. Country is in poor condition, and we need to protect it, for the sake of our children and our future.”

“I OPPOSE TERRORIST ATTACKS AND WANT UKRAINE TO HAVE PEACE”

 Oleh, soldier:

“I have come to this march to honor my dead colleagues who have died at Volnovakha. I have been there, so how could I fail to remember my friends? I oppose terrorist attacks and want Ukraine to have peace. I feel somewhat uncomfortable in Kyiv, want to fight again in the east to bring an end to it all sooner.”

“THIS EVENT IS MAKING ME FEEL OUR COMMON PAIN”

 Kapitolina SYNYTSYNA, student of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy:

“My friends and I have joined this march to honor the victims of the terrorist act at Volnovakha. It is held under the slogan ‘I am Volnovakha,’ very much like ‘Je suis Charlie’ march held in Paris. These events are similar in their messages. The main message of the people who took to the streets in Ukraine today is that we are part of the tragedy at Volnovakha, it is a piece of our daily lives, and we do not stand on the sidelines.

JANUARY 18, 2015. KYIV. Approaching Heroiv Nebesnoi Sotni (the Heroes of Heavenly Hundred) Street, the marchers kneeled to honor the protesters who were killed there during the Revolution of Dignity. The march ended in Independence Square / Photo by Borys KORPUSENKO

“This event is making me feel our common pain. It is not just joy but sorrow as well that unites people. Personally, I see civil society being created in this way. Everyone is receiving a bit of the common pain and social trauma, thus enabling the society to survive this great misfortune and go on together.”

“PEOPLE HAVE BECOME KINDER, THEY DISPLAY MORE SOLIDARITY AND PATRIOTISM”

 Oksana DROZD, nurse (speaking tearfully):

“I have joined the whole of Ukraine at this march to commemorate the people who died there. It is important to keep the public morale up. People have become kinder, they display more solidarity and patriotism. Still, I am feeling sad at this march. It is hard on the soul.”

“I HAVE COME TO THIS EVENT TO SHOW THAT I WILL NEVER SUBMIT”

 Oleksandr SEMENOV, Afghan war veteran:

“For me, the tragedy in Volnovakha is a humiliation, another killing of Ukrainians. They keep humiliating us. For instance, I am insulted by the way our ‘cyborgs’ in the Donetsk airport have to be rotated through the Russian lines. I have come to this event to show that I will never submit.”

“THE UNITED FRONT WITH EUROPE IS OUR ONLY CHANCE TO STOP THIS AGGRESSION”

 Andrii SENCHENKO, former Ukrainian MP, former deputy head of the Presidential Administration:

“Undoubtedly, this march aims to demonstrate solidarity with Volnovakha, all citizens of Ukraine who are in the zone of this Kremlin-unleashed war, as well as those remaining in Crimea and those forced to leave these areas and their homes. It is also a demonstration of unity and a strong desire to defend the country. I think it is important for us and for Europe and America alike. It is also a demonstration for Russia that it is not the government or a ‘junta’ as they like to say, but the people of our country who are fighting this war. I agree with the posters which people are holding in their hands here, reading ‘I am Volnovakha.’ It stands for the statement that by shooting at Volnovakha residents, these gangsters and Russian troops shot into the soul of every citizen of our country. They have to understand that.

“Unfortunately, the international community has been slow to react to events in our country since the first day of the Russian aggression. Still, some understanding begins to dawn on them. Finally, they are beginning to say that this war is waged not just on Ukraine, but on the civilized world as a whole. Europe should be united in this understanding, because there are people there who are willing to sit it out and build their prosperity on the Russian money. The united front with Europe is our only chance to stop this aggression.

“Surely, we should expect the government’s response to this event. After all, Ukrainian people have become more patriotic in their opinions than many members of our government. Therefore, they have to sober up, because no one will tolerate situation for much longer.”

“THE UKRAINIANS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE SHOULD BE UNITED IN OUR STRUGGLE FOR PEACE, FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND FOR OUR FUTURE”

 Andrii TETERUK, MP, former commander of the Peacemaker battalion:

“This march of unity should target every Ukrainian. I would not select the government, the residents of the Donbas or any other category as its chief target. We must understand the need for joint effort by all residents of Ukraine in our struggle for peace and unity. We will then reach the goal that our boys are dying for. All Ukrainians must understand that we should be united in our struggle for peace, for our country, and for our future.

“We are witnessing the occupation of our territory, its capture and sponsorship of terrorist organizations with equipment, ammunition, money, information support. Therefore, we need to understand what terrorist act and terrorist occupation by the aggressor country mean.

“Europe is beginning to understand that Ukraine is defending its borders from the aggressor country. They see the Kremlin’s desire to change the world order.”

By Dmytro KRYVTSUN, Olha KHARCHENKO, Maria PROKOPENKO, The Day