The Russian war in Ukraine will show you the future of Europe and the world.
Young Writers In War
I’m reading Illia Ponomarenko’s book, “I Will Show You How It Was.” It’s a raw, irreverent account of a young Ukrainian reporter as his country heroically defended itself against the Russian invasion. 
He was in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, a community much like St Albert, that bore the brunt of civilian atrocities.
I’ve been to Kyiv. Close your eyes and life sounds there like it does downtown in any Canadian, big city. The buildings are older, but the people look like our neighbours. Their normal lives were brutally upended.
Illia writes an eyewitness account from March 18, 2022, of people fleeing fire and death, many barefoot, in shock and terror. The Battle of Kyiv was one of the most tragic and bizarre events in modern history. It was the opening act of the biggest European bloodbath since 1945. Outgunned and outmanned, Ukraine sustained the most critical blow and then fought back. And they have been fighting back for over three years. Their courage and resilience are remarkable. Fox News demeans them, but they are the heroes of freedom.
Their fight is altering the course of European history. But for how long?
What Lies Ahead
Russia increased attacks on Ukraine since Inauguration Day. The US wants concessions from Zelensky for peace but apparently, none from Putin.
What will a young, Canadian reporter write about how it was in 2025? Canadians face the first weeks of a declared tariff war with our neighbour. It’s bloodless, so far.
War, as all crises, is a place where all things artificial, trivial, pretentious, and contrived fall away, leaving people to confront real problems and make decisions about matters of life and death.
So, the question arises—against the backdrop of Ukraine’s war and a US/Canada trade war—am I capable of focusing on what truly matters: saving lives, upholding values, honouring sacrifice, and striving to preserve what people hold dear?
Please join the conversation and post a comment below.
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.
