What Russians Should Know About Ukraine

The confidence of Russian opponents in an absolutely alternative reality regarding what is happening in Ukraine negates the possibility of any dialogue. That is, confidence in a completely erroneous picture of what Ukraine is living and what to strive for. All cause-and-effect relationships are broken, and between events and facts, a large, outright lie is skillfully woven into the mosaic, firmly cementing everything. The tangle of lies and insinuations is so large and confusing that it is difficult to know from which side to approach it. I would like to tell you at least about some realities from the life of today’s Ukraine that will help us begin to unravel this knot of delusions.

First of all, to better understand where Ukraine is going today, it is worth learning about the causes of the events that occurred during the three winter months on the Maidan. I have already described in detail why the Maidan happened in Ukraine and who came to it. I recommend reading to those who want to better understand the current realities of Ukraine, about which I write below.

Ukraine now has a legitimate interim government elected under the Constitution of Ukraine. The entire parliament remained the same, no one new came to the government in key positions, who was not known before or was not in state structures before. Of course, there are chameleons left over from the old government, but whatever the interim government may be, it is now necessary for the functioning of the state apparatus, the adoption of laws and the restoration of Ukraine. It is impossible to completely change the system in a month. Every day, actions are taken and laws are adopted to create a more transparent system of government and combat corruption. We are now rebuilding the country.

Legally and in compliance with the procedure, the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine, which were introduced by Yanukovych in violation of the procedure for usurping power, were canceled. With these changes, he vested himself with powers and powers that the people of Ukraine did not delegate to him. As a result, Ukraine returned to the constitution of the parliamentary-presidential republic in 2004, according to which Yanukovych was elected. By the way, the next presidential election on it was to be held in March 2014.

Ukraine is waiting for presidential elections to be held in late May. Waiting for lustration. We are waiting for new parliamentary elections by the end of the year. The result will be a completely new parliament and a new government.

The issue of federalization in Ukraine is not on the agenda. This is unhealthy advice for Ukraine from the Russian Federation, which is not perceived otherwise than blackmail. Their goal is to divide Ukraine into independent regions, so that there is a further opportunity to capture them according to the Crimean scenario. About federalization shout only and exclusively deputies from the Party of Regions, where, in fact, all decisions are made individually. These are the same deputies who opposed the people of Ukraine during the revolution, who themselves abandoned Yanukovych when it smelled fried, and who want to remain at the helm in the regions, continuing to steal, but with the help of the Russian Federation.

Ukraine really needs decentralization, and regions need more power to make their own decisions and manage their own budgets. Everyone understands this and everyone agrees with it. This is not a question of federalization.

In the eastern regions, paid collaborationist provocative actions with tricolors are periodically held to destabilize the situation and disrupt the presidential elections. They are organized by sent saboteurs and specially trained provocateurs. In recent weeks, the Security Service of Ukraine detains such saboteurs almost daily, and often they find weapons and instructions for organizing mass riots. Of course, such people do not have Ukrainian citizenship. All information about this is publicly available. Unfortunately, we will most likely see such provocations before the presidential election.

A more stringent law has recently been passed, which provides for criminal liability and serious prison terms for “deliberate acts committed with the aim of changing the borders of the territory or state border of Ukraine in violation of the order established by the Constitution of Ukraine, as well as for public appeals or distribution of materials with calls for such actions.” The punishment for espionage was also increased.

The issue of the Right Sector is closed. There are no representatives of the Right Sector anywhere in the parliament, the government, the executive bodies. They surrendered their weapons and the issue is closed. In fact, it was not the Right Sector that caused more concern, but the outright bandits gathered by the Party of Regions at one time to confront the Maidan and organize riots, which after the revolution, hiding behind the names of the Right Sector and the Maidan Self-Defense, were engaged in looting and extortion. It was a great relief for them to catch. That doesn't happen anymore. For now, this issue is also closed.

There are no preconditions or even hints of civil war in Ukraine. It is very surprising when Russian opponents speak about the civil war in Ukraine and raise their hand against their brother. Ukrainians are not going to fight each other. Moreover, people unite even more to protect the sovereignty of the country. Most residents of Donbass, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and in principle, most residents of the eastern regions want to live in a unified Ukraine. There are no conflicts or contradictions between Ukrainians and each other that can lead to armed confrontation or civil war. It took us three months of revolution and a hundred in heaven. We just buried our heroes. We now want peace, order and the revival of Ukraine.

Everything is calm in Ukraine. The streets are in complete order, with the exception of rare pinpoint pro-Russian collaborationist provocations in major cities in eastern Ukraine. A friend from Moscow wrote to me the other day asking me if I was in the terrible events in Kiev that the Russian media was talking about. On that day, apart from a football match at the central Olympic Stadium, which was watched by all fans of Ukraine, nothing else happened in Kiev.

All planned social events are held in Ukraine, establishments are open, concerts, football matches, fashion week are held, and the Kiev marathon will be held in the city center and bridges. Everything is completely calm in Ukraine. People returned to their business peacefully.

We already see a lot of positive changes in our everyday life. The motorcade of statesmen and the hours-long traffic jams associated with them disappeared from the streets, the government went into austerity, government agencies refused official transport, the prime minister flies abroad on regular flights and stops at the embassy, not at expensive hotels. Little change, but nice. To all this, the traffic police on the roads in an effort to raise the image of employees to the European level behaves very politely and culturally. This is especially exciting for all drivers. On the Facebook page of the Minister of the Interior, you can see periodic reports on the work done and plans. The government began to listen to people’s opinions, report back and hold meetings with leading experts. There has never been such openness in Ukraine. Maidan set a precedent.

Kiev is neither destroyed nor burned. Museums and conservatories are safe and sound. The square in front of the Dynamo stadium on Hrushevsky Street is already being restored. The only serious consequence for the architecture of Kiev was the burned building of trade unions on the Maidan, which, by the way, was burned by the soldiers of Berkut. Maidan today has become a place of power and a place of memory of the victims, which is covered with flowers and on which it is impossible to pass without overwhelming emotions. Maidan is a small spot in the center of Kiev. Kiev is as beautiful as it was before the revolution.

Despite the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russian citizens can feel completely safe and calm in any region of Ukraine. Of course, this is if they do not call for separatism, do not walk with weapons, do not behave openly in rude or disrespectful to Ukrainian values. No one oppresses Russian speakers, no one is engaged in witch hunts. Half of Ukraine speaks Russian. Historically, in Soviet times, Russian was taught in schools. So the question of the oppression of Russian speakers is insane.

Nevertheless, Putin has made Ukrainians increasingly angry with Russia. This is not our choice, but it is a natural reaction to the occupation of Crimea and the flows of anger, aggression and complete disrespect for Ukraine that we see from the Russian Federation. We must defend ourselves against the aggressor. Ukraine has finally banned propaganda Russian TV channels that broadcast lies about the state of affairs in Ukraine. We are boycotting Russian-made products so that not a single penny goes to the Russian budget to pay for the military who invaded the territory of our Motherland. It's a small thing, but it's important to us. Entrepreneurs refuse Russian investments, specialists refuse to go to work in Russia when they receive such offers. Periodically hear about the termination of cooperation in various areas of business. This is not the policy of the Ukrainian government. This is the personal choice of every Ukrainian.

It is worth understanding that we perceive what is happening in Crimea and eastern Ukraine as a stab in the back from an allegedly “brotherly” neighbor who climbed into our garden at the moment of greatest vulnerability while we take out garbage from the house. It's just that you don't forget things like that. A whole generation of Ukrainians will live with this sediment.

Ukraine has already signed an association agreement with the European Union. Ukraine will develop, building a European democratic society, and will bring its legislation and standards in order to meet the European level of development and quality of life. However, there is no talk of joining the EU. At least Ukraine is not ready yet. It is not a fact that EU membership will be beneficial for Ukraine’s economy. We will choose what is best for Ukraine.

Being in the center of Europe at the intersection of trade routes, it is not reasonable to limit yourself to one vector of cooperation. Ukraine has always believed that it would be right to cooperate with both Europe and the Russian Federation. However, Putin’s policy, which forced Ukraine to choose either-or, calls into question the further development of the Russian vector of interests of Ukraine. We've already chosen European. How relevant the Russian vector of interests of Ukraine will be now depends on the actions of the Russian Federation in relation to Ukraine.

We are ready to fight for the freedom of Ukraine and understand that there can be many victims. Ukrainians have already passed the psychological barrier. We have already received the first Ukrainian officers killed by Russian soldiers. We have outgrown fear and are ready to fight to the death. It's a matter of honor for us. We have had three months of revolution and the second month of preparations for the armed invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops has begun. For many young people, studying military science has become an entertainment in recent months.

We want peace, but we are preparing for war.

The male population of Ukraine is ready to stand in the gun if there is an invasion of Russian troops on the territory of continental Ukraine. And there are at least a couple million of them. One should not think that the Russian army, no matter how numerous it may be, can easily and painlessly, as in Crimea, get at least part of the eastern regions of Ukraine. For every Russian soldier, even if every single one of them is thrown into the seizure of Ukraine, there will be at least five very irritated and fierce "Bandera" who will act by guerrilla methods on their land, defending their freedom and their honor, who will not waver in their hand to kill any armed aggressor who encroaches on our home. Freedom and independence for Ukrainians is an imperative.

We should finally understand that no matter what pretext the need for aggression against Ukraine is presented in the Russian Federation, no matter what alternative reality the Russian media has invented with calls to protect someone in Ukraine, no matter what lies are told about total lawlessness, everything is fine in Ukraine. More than ever, the people are a single nation, we have revived self-identification, pride in our country and respect for Ukrainian roots. We will deal with corruption, our interim government, the plundered remnants of the old government and everything that is happening in Ukraine.

Leaving Ukraine alone and keeping its house in order is the best thing the Russian Federation can do today. We will decide the fate of Ukraine, decide what the state system should be and will build relations with other countries. We are ready to listen to friendly advice and will be glad to receive economic assistance aimed at creating a democratic society, supporting democratic values and stabilizing the economic situation. But outright political and economic blackmail, as well as any attempts to influence us by force against our will, will only lead to the fact that we will remain real enemies for many decades.

Is that what you really want?
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