We must go out and speak to people. That’s what motivates a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and a Ukrainian young adult on social media to talk about the realities of Ukraine.
Katerina
We want REVwords readers to hear and see Ukraine through the eyes of Ukrainians.
Katerina Horbunova writes from Ukraine on various social media platforms. The following content is from Twitter. Katerina describes Ukraine in a way that only a Ukrainian who has lived through over 1730 days of war can.
Katerina Horbunova
“My country is living in a kind of vacuum, isolated by all these wartime events. And when news about the aftermath of this war pours in from different cities, it often leaves you speechless. There are many cities in our country, and the destruction is different everywhere. The number of dead… the number of wounded… You look at all of this, you read about it, and you just stay silent-even your mind goes quiet, no longer producing any thoughts. And there is a lump in your chest, heavy like a stone.
Yes, it is impossible to know every person in your country, but these are your people-real, living people who found themselves in the path of a Russian projectile or attack drone. It feels like a punishment simply for living in Ukraine. And winter is still ahead; I just hope there won’t be any severe frosts.”
Air Raid Sirens and No Electricity
“Today, the realities of life in Ukraine seem very strange to those living in other countries. Just imagine that you’ve arrived in Ukraine, and this is your very first morning here. Your morning will be radically different from the life you’re used to. Most likely, you’ll be woken up by an air raid siren outside your window, and a closed window won’t help, the sound is extremely loud. There is also a chance you’ll hear air defense working in the distance…
So, you wake up and realize there’s no electricity in the house, which means no heating either. It’s cold, but manageable – “it’s not winter yet,” you tell yourself. You turn on a battery-powered light in the bathroom to brush your teeth and see yourself in the mirror. Sure, your face looks a bit sleepy and rumpled in the morning, but that’s okay: breakfast, coffee or tea, and everything will be fine. Luckily, you have a gas stove, which is a real reason to celebrate, this morning you’ll get both breakfast and hot tea.”
Where Silence Is A Luxury
“Outside, as usual, parents are taking their children to school or kindergarten. The familiar sound of children’s voices drifts in, since you live in an apartment building. And, of course, the icing on the cake, you have a power station (or power bank) with your router plugged into it. The internet works because your provider installed plenty of backup batteries, so the connection can last for more than 24 hours without power. You eat breakfast and can quietly catch up on the news.
Sure, the news in Ukraine rarely brings joy in the morning, but staying informed is crucial. And all of this feels like a normal morning because you’ve gotten used to living this way. But there are cities in my country where the morning is completely different… Where silence is a luxury, and the sound of explosions replaces the birdsong at dawn.”
A Normal Morning
“I am one of those people who, despite all the madness in my country, understand that this won’t last forever, and there will undoubtedly come a day when all of this, this war-will come to an end. I don’t know how or in what way, or if it will be possible to find common ground with the psychopath Putin, whether it will be through negotiations or something else… in any case, everything has a beginning and an end.
Because the people of Ukraine have been immersed in war for far too long… and so many negative emotions linger here. War is not just explosions; it is also self-destruction, internal destruction, when a person spends years filling themselves with all the events happening in their city, in other cities, and in the country as a whole. It is impossible to stay away from other people’s losses, pain, and everything that happens here.”
Frozen in Place
As one Ukrainian woman wrote, describing how she hears explosions in a remote part of her city and no longer pays attention, only to read the news or messages from people later saying someone died there at the hands of the Russians. “Each of us tries in our own way to keep living, to make adjustments to improve our mental and psychological state, and to find a piece of happiness and joy within ourselves or in someone else.”
“Yes, exactly that, despite everything, because we are alive and our bodies need to recharge in order to keep living through all this madness-since what comes after always takes a toll on your health. Our cities are still visually alive, there is life here, but at the same time, this life feels frozen in place. In general, this is hard to put into words-it can only be felt by living through it in Ukraine.”
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leading human rights advocate of Ukraine.
Illusion Breaker
Nobel Peace Prize, Laureate, Oleksandra Matviichuk says, “It seems that over these years, we’ve already said everything we could to the world. We’ve made our arguments, told our stories, and explained their meaning. I’ve honestly caught myself thinking long ago that I’ve grown tired of hearing my own voice in this role.
But that’s an illusion. Every time I work in another country, I meet many people who have simply never heard our message. And if the Bible has been repeating the same truths for millennia, then we, too, must go out and speak to people.
This war has not only a military dimension but also a cognitive one. After all, it was sparked by a specific idea — that Russia, as a “God-chosen civilization,” has the right to invade other nations, kill people, erase their identity, abduct children, and re-educate them as Russians.”
Not Forgotten
I understand from our friends in Ukraine that many Ukrainians are beginning to feel forgotten. Like the world does not care about them. Who could blame them for enduring 4 1/2 years of war that appears to be supported or at least not opposed by the US. Even I have been taken aback by Albertans who are vocal against the support of Ukraine by our federal government. It’s like they don’t know that Alberta is home to thousands of Ukrainian refugees who are now making Canada their home.
When we are in Ukraine next week, our presence will tell them that Ukraine is not forgotten. Canada has not forgotten. We stand with Ukraine. And we bless Ukraine.
If you post a comment for Ukraine, we’ll share it in our travels. Post your comment below. Thank you.
Hope grows here. We share stories that inspire people, build faith, and offer lasting purpose.
We’d love to have you Subscribe to REVwords. We’ll put helpful content into your inbox Mondays and Fridays.
