Love Is Active: A letter from Lviv, Ukraine’s Center for protection. Opinion

629 0
Anna Rakova – a Kyiv native, a Philology student at Ukrainian Catholic University and a volunteer writer at Lviv Now’s ally Telegram channel Ukrainian Freedom News shares her view on how Western Ukraine became the outpost of Ukrainian resistance in the rear.
photo: telegram of Maksym Kozytskyi

photo: telegram of Maksym Kozytskyi

[For urgent updates please follow Ukrainian Freedom News in Telegram]

Now Lviv has become Ukraine’s centre for protection, training, and communication. Lviv is truly becoming the heart of Ukraine. Cars with food, clothes, and weapons for our army go through Lviv. Many large Ukrainian media companies are now based in Lviv, and there are hundreds of volunteer outlets. 

All the victims of Russia’s terrorism are trying to find peace in this city located in western Ukraine. Lviv’s residents are now receiving refugees in their homes. People who work in the information technology field during peacetime are now sending targeted hacker attacks on Russian websites. They work because of love. 

In addition to the media, Lviv’s scientific and artistic circles are currently doing serious work. In particular, the Ukrainian Catholic University, that is based in Lviv, is currently holding a series of lectures on the topic of war – from a historical point of view, from the point of view of literature and culture,and from the point of view of the world. Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv artists continue to write poetry and prose, take photos, and create stories for future cinema. 

In my opinion, western Ukraine has always been ready to take on the role of leadership in times of crisis. It has a very clear and permanent identification. Knowing clearly what it is defending, western Ukraine is very active. We see that the passion and strength we have here, in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi, is contagious. 

People from the central and eastern regions who have already faced suffering and destruction, and have already suffered losses, can regain their strength and find their place to work when they come here. We work together and are united in one common dream. We see that people from the territories that have been affected and beaten are now ready, with like-minded people and support, to fight for our territories and to help other refugees. They work because of love. 

The word «hero» comes from the Greek heros, which means «leader, warrior» and is related to servo – «guard, protect.» Every Ukrainian took on this role on February 24th, and it is clear now exactly what it is they want to protect. We, in Lviv, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, and Irpin’, are the daily heroes who make sure that refugees have food and shelter, so that no more enemy troops can break through, so that our children and our mothers will be safe and so that our memory and passion continues. The path to daily leadership in local communities and in public society began on February 24th for all Ukrainians. Because protecting and defending is exactly what a leader does, that is what we are doing right now. We guide each other, showing each other how, where and whom to help. While everyone works, we continue to lead each other forward. We can say that love makes heroes out of people.

I would divide people in Ukraine into two categories: those who have been damaged by the war, and those who have only been affected. There are those among us who already mourn, who are constantly alert, and there are those who are getting used to the shock and behaving as if the war is already over. The truth is this war has just begun, so we cannot relax. Most people are aware of the gravity of the situation so they are preparing for the worst-case scenario. 

The news media is now divided into three camps. There is Russian propaganda, news directly from Ukraine, and Western media. Each information channel disseminates different information. I am sure that it is appropriate to trust only Ukrainian state-owned newsletters, because they are the only insiders, who are seeing history being written firsthand.

Out of love for my sisters, and his wife, and me, my father went to fight for his country. I live with the fear that enemy shells can kill him at any moment. What can I do to help him? 

I can pray and tell you true stories about what is happening around me. I can arrange an ammunition meeting for him. I can love those around me, take care of refugees, my family, friends, and people with disabilities who are especially stressed. I can produce love, hoping that it will reach my father. 

I am doing everything I can to help my father stay alive, who voluntarily went to liberate this country from the enemy. But every time politicians in the West and Europe come together to negotiate whether to close the sky over Ukraine, give Ukraine a place in the EU, or send us weapons and troops to help, it is always about my life, and my father’s life. And I’m telling you this because I love my dad.

This is not a book, this is not a movie, this is not history – this is my father, who can actually die at any moment. I understand that most of the country feels the same way as I do right now. Everyone who risks death for our peace and security is someone’s father, friend, husband, or son. Every man, who is now at the front lines, supports someone else’s existence. And they need each other to be alive because they love each other.

Belarus is joining in on this crime, because Belarus will send soldiers to kill our people along with Russia. Evil spreads more and more if it is not stopped. The world can be divided into two categories: those who are murderers and those who defend human life and human rights. Our appeal on the matter is really very simple – choose a side. 

Doctors, volunteers, and civilians are being shelled. Children are dying, you know this. Have you grown used to seeing our cities being bombed? How will you feel if they use chemical weapons and thousands of people die all at once? What else should happen before the line is crossed? How many deaths do you need to witness in order for you to act urgently?

The most eternal and universal thing we know is love. We can only afford to appeal to love. Even while we are experiencing death, we are still full of love – for each other, for the country, as it is our common source of existence and foundation. This is why we continue to work, give our things, our food, our money in order to win. We know why we’re still standing – because we love. After all, being in a horrifying war may be scary, but something above us is leading us.

This war is a question for each of us about what is most valuable. This war is a test of conscience. Ukrainians have already won this war morally. The West must answer these questions, because the West needs to understand itself and decide what it really believes.

The point is to do what you profess and to confess what you do – that is why we turn to the West, which presents itself as something full of love and respect for humanity. The question is simple. Does the West stand for love and humanity or does it not? If the West speaks of itself as the guarantor of human justice and freedom, then it is time to defend these things when someone tries to destroy them. Destroying life and spreading murder, terror, lies, and indifference is Russia’s new norm.

Love is about good will and honest choices. Love is about our values and our kinship. Now that we are facing the threat of death, I ask you to think and decide whether you have love in your hearts or if you love us.

Maybe you don’t have love? Then, we will have to sacrifice many more lives to protect our brothers, sisters, children, and parents. We are even ready to die to defend our own country, to give a future to our children, and to show our love for mankind. From our vital forces will grow future generations. If you do not have love, if you do not believe in freedom and respect for humanity, then we will defend our country by ourselves at any cost.

Isn’t one a participant in a crime, who just observes from a distance, knowing he can actually stop the crime?

But you can take part in this victory. Everyone can now influence the course of events in Ukraine. If you can collect a parcel with provisions – collect it, if you go to school and can prepare a parcel to help Ukrainian children – do it, if you go to church – pray for us, if you have weapons (bulletproof vests, helmets, and infrared cameras) – give them to us, if you see a Ukrainian near you – support him, if you want to send a message to your city by going out and protesting – then, by all means, go out and protest.

You can really influence your politicians with rallies and media activity so that they make decisions in favor of Ukraine. You can protest if genocide, destruction, cruelty are not the norm for you where you are. You can keep in touch with your friends and relatives from Ukraine and take care of them.

Do not think that this is not your business, because love is active. You now have the opportunity to uphold the ideals of freedom and justice. All you need to do is listen to love, and help us. There will be far fewer deaths if you do. Your decisions affect whether our culture survives. It depends on your decisions whether our people will live or die.

by Anna Rakova, Ukrainian Freedom News

Follow Lviv Now on Facebook and Instagram. To receive our weekly email digest of stories, please follow us on Substack.

Lviv Now is an English-language website for Lviv, Ukraine’s «tech-friendly cultural hub.» It is produced by Tvoe Misto («Your City») media-hub, which also hosts regular problem-solving public forums to benefit the city and its people.

 



Читайте також:
+
Щодня наша команда працює над тим, щоб інформувати Вас про найважливіше в місті та області. За роки своєї праці ми довели, що «Твоє місто» - це медіа, якому справді можна довіряти. Долучіться до Спільноти Прихильників «Твого міста» та збережіть незалежне медіа для громади. Кожен внесок має значення!