It's been a month since our world changed. The world as we know it has gone... forever. In the early morning of February 24th, 2022, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, declared that he decided to "conduct a special military operation" against Ukraine. Putin's declaration of war was broadcasted on Russian state TV, and as soon as this incredible news was distributed by international mass media, we witnessed violent scenes of the Russian airforce bombing major cities across Ukraine, which made us convinced it was happening.
Despite the American government's repeated warnings since January 2022 that Russia was ready for a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the nationwide attack from Day 1 was still a bolt from the blue. There was a report that the German secret services chief was rescued by his own team to evacuate from Kyiv, the capital. This is proof of how the West was unprepared for Putin's aggression to Ukraine, a neighbouring country that looked like Russia's brother.
The whole world was shaken as the regional conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in recent years had abruptly developed into total war and its escalation would trigger World War III. Putin threatened the Western leaders with a message that we must not interfere with them, insinuating the use of nuclear weapons. Here is an excerpt from his statement:
[Putin] "Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events. Whoever tries to hinder us, and even more so to create threats for our country, for our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history." (Translated and distributed by The Spectator, 24/2/2022, https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/full-text-putin-s-declaration-of-war-on-ukraine)
Russia's owning the largest number of nuclear weapons in the world is evident. If Russia used just one of them, that's literary the end of the world. The scenario which must not happen has happened when Putin and his inner circle revealed their insane, cruel, and extremely selfish plans to use the deadliest and most destructive weapon as a means of negotiatiation with the world. Since then, everything Putin's Russian government has done demonstrates that they are aggressors and terrorists without an inch of doubt. They manoeuvred to take double hostages: the Ukrainians; and the rest of the world. Ukrainians are encircled and trapped within their country, relentlessly bombarded with shells and missiles to death. We, the West and its allies, can't move but are forced to be spectators of diabolic scenes, as if watching Hollywood movies.
I'm not a historian or a military analyst and my knowledge about the history and conflicts between Russia and Ukraine is limited to what is available via major news reports and some journal articles in English and Japanese. However, if we have our values in freedom -- liberty and autonomy -- as the fundamentals of living in the modern society, we know the use of military power to deny freedom is the step to totalitarianism. Even children know that! Putin's move from the first day of invasion was a challenge against liberal democracy and already unacceptable. But, as news media have reported, the Russian army has destroyed the infrastructure of cities in Ukraine and indiscriminately attacked civilians. It is abominable and there is no way backwards for Putin's Russia to restore its relationship with the West and its allies. Putin must fall and his regime must end for world peace.
In the first several days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, I was so terrified and distressed with the bad prospect that many people would inevitably die and other countries might be involved in this war. I'm shattered by following news over the past month. But, I now feel ashamed of myself that I was afraid for nothing when staying in a safe place. My gloomy feelings were only psychological, while the Ukrainian people are fighting in the real war zone to protect their land, liberty, autonomy and democracy. I've been encouraged by their magnificent courage and true heroism, despite a huge sacrifice of people's lives. There are Russians who also bravely stood up against Putin and his government, knowing their protests may result in losing jobs and imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years.
What can I do for the catastrophic situations apart from sending prayers and donating for the Ukrainian people? How could we stop Putin and the war without a compromise on the Ukrainian side? (i.e. the surrender to dictatorship and the end of liberal democracy.) I'm not sure, to be honest... I hear some people say that there are wars, poverty, discrimination, etc. around the world, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not a unique case of disaster. That's true. But, it's not an excuse for us to be indifferent to news about this war. Russia is a powerful country and one of the five permanent members of the Security Council in the United Nations. Its responsibility is paramount. Everyone must act as a watchdog of its action.
I believe observing situations surrounding Russia/Ukraine news via multiple sources is important to obtain an unbiased perspective. By comparing different narratives in a variety of reports, we can avoid sharing propaganda. I also think individuals must become transparent and make statements about what is right. Each one of our voices may seem insignificant to change the world, but I've learnt by observing protestors around the world against Putin's war, the mass of our voices can indeed change the world for good. Therefore, I hereby make my stance clear.
(Well, I should have done this at the outbreak of the war -- but it's better late than doing nothing.)
I stand with the Ukrainian people, who are defending their own people and land. I show my highest respect to those fighting for freedom, as I believe they're bravely acting as human walls against the aggressor, Putin and his supporters. Indeed, they are sacrificing their safety and lives for the justice of the whole world right now.
I denounce Putin's Russia, which extravagantly prioritises the ambition to expand territories over Ukrainians' lives to rule the world.
My heart goes to those who lost lives in this war, to their family and friends, and to those who lost their houses.
I respect countries that have offered support to Ukrainian refugees. Especially, Poland has accepted a great number of them.
I regard Ukrainians' self-defences as similar to civil war, such as the French revolution. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a true hero and the leader of the common people, fighting against the privileged, who have forgotten the spirit of 'noblesse oblige' but, instead, monopolised the wealth.
I praise the Ukrainian people's firm belief in liberal democracy. With this belief, they are united as an independent country that secures the liberty of speech against violence.
Putin's regime must end not by the Ukrainians' blood but by his people. Russian people must take back autonomy to control their own country. Without achieving it, I presume the next president will take the same steps as Putin.
I pray for Ukraine and sincerely hope this extremely difficult time for them will be over as soon as possible. What we learned from Covid-19 is that the world is one, and we're all connected. I believe our good actions will ultimately make the world a better place to put an end to cruelty. Slava Ukraine!