Events in Ukraine move in and out of the American news cycle, and our attention, depending on multiple other daily events.
But for Ukrainians total war is a constant reality that affects all aspects of life. The country is in a fight for its existence. Life and death decisions are faced daily for everyone.
In a fight between an authoritarian dictator in Russia and a country’s whose people want self-determinatin, the outcome will depend on people’s morale, not just who has more weapons or manpower.
How does one learn about this critical factor? What is Ukraine’s morale, its peoples’ confidence in the increasingly difficult political, military and everyday uncertainties all endure?
Two recent posts suggest the resilience of the Ukrainian nation is everywhere.
The first is a brief FaceBook post from a Christmas concert which celebrates the country’s music, culture and faith in the midst of war.
The concert did not go as planned. A Russian attack on the power grid shut down electricity in the middle of the event.
The short Facebook video below shows what happened next. The Ukrainian words state: “There was a power outage right in the middle of the concert, but the choir didn’t skip a beat and kept on going in the dark.”
In this one minute excerpt note the orchestra and chorus continue to play. But not entirely in the dark. Because the audience raises their mobile phone lights to make the concert hall still visible.
People uniting to bring light when darkness threatens.
(https://www.facebook.com/reel/1152383956497057)
On The Ground Video from Donbas
Caolin Robertson was a London-based investigative journalist who moved full time to Ukraine to cover the conflict . He explaines his reasons in this brief video, Why I Moved to Ukraine. . . for Good.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja6EzWrfg-w)
As mainstream foreign media coverage is at best intermittent and often prompted by external actors-Russia, the US and Europe-Caolin chose to be on the ground full time.
His latest video is one of the best reports on the current state of the war as seen by soldiers and civilians living at the center of the conflict in Donbas.
Filmed last summer it includes live interviews with middle age soldiers in bunkers who have been in combat for almost four years. Young couples and older residents are forced to leave their homes. The destruction of cities and towns is total.
The production is superb, the story is current and intermingled with video of what these Ukrainian towns looked like prior to the 2022 Russian invasion.
One of the themes in his interviews is the deep, storied and unique history of the Donbas, This is the area that Russia wants kiev to hand over as a condition of any ceasefire. And one part in the Trump administration’s so called peace plan.
His interviews weave current events with history which makes this sory even more meaningful and tragic.
While 44 minutes might seem long, I believe it will keep your attention once you start. For it shows people willing to persevere and fight no matter what the current cost in life and fortune.
Fpr a future of freedom there is a deep and profound price today. A message the world should know and support whenever freedom anywhere is threatened.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2RTlhvqbc)