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Shoshanna's avatar

As Navalny said: You are not allowed to give up.

Period.

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Thank you Shoshanna. Never. There's also another quote from Navalny I like, "if they decide to kill me, it means that we are incredibly strong." 🇺🇦

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Anne Hayes's avatar

You are an incredible writer. I know it is not the same thing, not to minimize the pain of actual war, but I feel the same under Trump. We are also fighting for our country. Our battle is internal. Our destroyers are within us. Our president is doing damage that will take generations to fix. Finding hope and purpose is a daily grind.

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Kim H's avatar

I hear you loud and clear, I feel it too. BUT...if Viktor can still go on given the IMMENSE pain, sorrow, loss now in it's 4th YEAR in Ukraine, we can press on and continue to RESIST too!! We simply MUST...because the alternative is NOT acceptable. 💪💪💪

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Judith C Birenbaum's avatar

Thank you, Viktor. I wish I could help you as much as you or helping me! Now I know I have no excuse not to keep going, and I absolutely must do my best to make a contribution to stop Trump and to stop Russia!

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Martin Landau's avatar

Viktor, know that you and all of Ukraine are the Beacon of Freedom for the world. The Statue of Liberty weeps for your pain.

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Marlas Karen's avatar

Thank you.

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Wendy Biggerstaff's avatar

We are still here for you. In the USA, we resist. We are becoming larger and louder and at every event people carry your flag. We are walking through darkness, though your land is darker than many, but we still continue to move forward. Thank you for being you.

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SLMontgo's avatar

Agree re Navalny, who lived that to his final breath. But, when it's crushing you, step back and give your voice a rest. Give your brain and thoughts some serenity, which I know sounds naive or even obscene given what you and your fellows are enduring. There are more reasons for you to go foward than there are to stop your voice. Viktor - if you disappeared, we would not only notice but we could send Oleksandr Bolbirer to find you for us.

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

Oh yes we would.

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Donna Dupont's avatar

Yes, we would send him (Oleksandr) 😉✊🫶

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Margaret Orr's avatar

Beautiful. Just what I need to read right now. 💜

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Velociraver's avatar

That's what Bilestsky says to Zelenskyy 😏

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

No no no no no never. It’s been a very long haul for you, but surely more arms are arriving? Everyone in USA is trying to remove their dictator.

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Thank you friend, I won't. I can't guarantee that I won't think about that, but as long I'm here, I will manage my thoughts to make it way from action. 🇺🇦

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

Viktor, you have to know that many many people love and care support your country. You are all incredibly brave, not only that you are an intelligent and canny ( inventive) nation of people who have won the admiration of the world. Ukraine 🇺🇦 is a light 💡 in these dark days. We wait for every post from you. You are the voice of all Ukraine 🇺🇦.

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Cate T's avatar

And one that gives us strength and hope here ❤️🇺🇦

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Corlis Robe's avatar

Think whatever you need to think. Write to us about it. We are here, and we listen. Just don't stop writing.

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

Remember that the Ukrainian 🇺🇦 flag is flown on many homes all over the world. In 🇬🇧 it is a common sight every one knows about Ukrainian resistance and bravery. You remind us of our selves when our cities were bombed continuously and casualties were so very high. That was a long time ago 80 years! But many fought until the bitter end. Never surrender, Keep Calm and Carry on. 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🙏🏼🙏🏼🫶🏻✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼

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Lin Z's avatar

You know? the Ukrainian flag with such beautiful colors has been haunting my painting. Ever since 2014. Such vibrant yellow and rich cerulean cobalt that provides a perfect balance. At first I didn’t realize it. But once I did I accepted it. Without trying to repeat the idea of a flag the colors come to bring light and hope.

I know that I have no real right to these colors. I do not know the dangers and hardships of war. I am not a soldier but only a painter. But I am certain that all people who love freedom and despise tyranny must do what they can. And when the colors come they are inspiring. It’s my small way of being with you.

I love your posts Victor, and I was able to write about the colors because of your response Fed Up With Fraud.

Somehow we are all in this together and our lives depend on what’s happening.

Keep on writing, Victor it keeps the light alive.

Thank you Ukraine for defending freedom.

You are our hope.

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Margaret Wallace's avatar

I have felt that this was us 🇬🇧 fighting alone on the other edge of Europe, it really helps me understand how important it is to support Ukraine 🇺🇦 at this time.

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Velociraver's avatar

Fed Up With Fraud...do you know that Ukraine was voted most corrupt nation in Europe? Are you okay with fraud, after all? Where are the missing Billions Zelesnkyy days he doesn't have? How many offshore villas in London, and elsewhere? How to account for his appearance in the Pandora Papers? 🤔

https://www.occrp.org/en/project/the-pandora-papers/pandora-papers-reveal-offshore-holdings-of-ukrainian-president-and-his-inner-circle

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

What happened to Kolomoisky?

In 2023, Kolomoyskyi was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on charges of money laundering and fraud, and placed under pre-trial arrest.

Zelenskyy had him arrested.

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Velociraver's avatar

What has Kolomoisky got to do with it? He bankrolled Ze from the start, as well as many neo-nazi groups, but he's irrelevant to Zelesnkyy's own corruption..this is merely a case of Zelenskyy following orders from his foreign handlers to keep his anti-corruption pledges and keep the weapons flowing.

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

He doesn’t have mansions in London. Unlike some governments he is not taking away money from the people, he is not changing people to do deals with him, he is not running a crypto scam, he is not selling hats of any colour and pocketing the profits he is not using China instead of his own country to produce this merchandise to make maximum profit.

He is highly respected by the world leaders who gave a standard round of applause at the Pope’s funeral, an unheard of event. He is the only leader whose words were written on a scroll and buried with the pope.

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Velociraver's avatar

Respected? He's called the "Green Goblin" and he's broken every promise he's made since he got elected.

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Velociraver's avatar

In his 2024 asset declaration, Zelenskyy declared whole or part ownership of 14 properties, a number that included several parking spaces. The declaration included one property in the United Kingdom. You seem to be a big Zelenskyy-stan, but yet dont know much about him..

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

You must do.due diligence.

Zelenskyy himself has often been the target of Russian disinformation campaigns. According to the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), the narrative that the Ukrainian president is buying luxury items such as yachts or mansions has been pushed in the past.

DW's fact check team has reported on these false claims before and found them to be baseless: No, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not been purchasing luxury yachts or mansions — and, no, he did not purchase Highgrove House.

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

Zelenskyy - Stan

What exactly do you mean?

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Kim H's avatar

🇺🇦💙💛🌻💙💛🇺🇦

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Viktor I can understand you having moments when things are really hard but one can never bend the knee or give up as long as we are all fighting for democracy. Giving up is what they want. We are all in this together and we have to keep supporting each other. Please stay safe . We all love you and what you are doing💙💛

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Linda Ann Cerveny's avatar

Everyone in the USA is certainly NOT trying to remove their dictator. If that was true, there would be no dictator. No, 1/2 of The population is so mentally and emotionally damaged that they are trotting along behind the dictator. Hoping that he will save them from themselves.

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TheRepublicIsDead's avatar

We don't have a dictator and more than half the voters are satisfied with Trump for various reasons. None of them have anything to do with the Ukraine.

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Alia MacStay's avatar

I would miss you if you give up. So would many others. I don’t think you will, but I wish I had the power to send you hope, and strength, and the energy you need to keep going. All I can do if be faithful in reading your columns, in praying for you, and in sending the love of a faraway old woman’s heart. Bless you , Viktor. Hang on. Keep hanging on.

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Dear Alia, thank you so much, you always have careful and comforting words. I almost gave up sharing this piece because the direction it was going was too pessimistic, but I just decided to let my feelings flow to whatever direction it decided. Sometimes I feel like I'm not writing from my mind and purely by my heart, and in particular this time I was surprised several times with sensation that "I don't believe I wrote this", but anyway, here's the result... And giving up publishing would be exactly the opposite of my final message which is precisely that we can't and we should never give up our fears!💙💛🇺🇦

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Linda Appelbaum's avatar

Viktor, your feelings, positive or negative, are genuine and valid. If we all felt free to share what is on our minds and in our hearts, as you do, the world would be a much more loving place. We in America are here for you. I'm sending you and all those in your country so much love and many hugs.🩵

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

Sometimes you just have to let all the negativity and thoughts flow out.

It can be cathartic and gives you strength to carry on.

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Alia MacStay's avatar

Viktor, my dear friend, writing from the heart is the best writing of all. Through your heart, you show us what it means to be Ukrainian and in war. It’s hard- terribly hard for you, but also for us. Yet you must keep writing. The world must know the realities of war, or there will never be peace. Even with your writing, people will resist believing in war’s reality: you must not give up. Through your writing, I believe you become an instrument of peace.

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Kim H's avatar

An instrument of peace, yes indeed! 💛💙💛💙

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Celia Ludi's avatar

No, Victor, you won't/can't give up. But you can take a day away from thinking and writing to go outside and breathe, feel the air and sun on your skin, move your body through air or water, exchange smiles with strangers, hug a friend. To remind yourself why you won't/can't give up. We'll be here when you get back.

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Susan Martell's avatar

Alia, what you said is exactly my feelings. Thank you

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Alia MacStay's avatar

Thank you. Thank you for your compassion for Viktor, his family, and his people. Thank you for wanting peace.

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Susan Beebe's avatar

You aren't stealing story space. There is space for all the stories. People see you and your story. I pray it will be listened to, heard, seen and solved.

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Thank you Susan, there's so much things in my mind, sometimes I can't even recognize well what I'm thinking, it's beyond my control, the message (I think, not absolutely sure) is that I have a deep will of wanting that there's no more wars in this world, anywhere. Sending my love and prayers for you too. 💙

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Rosie West's avatar

Please don’t give up. You’re keeping Ukraine in so many peoples’ minds.

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Thank you Rosie, I won't, and this article just came in a good time because I can revisit it at every time when the shadow of surrender haunts us. 🇺🇦

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Joyce Mason's avatar

Keep on with your inspirational writing.. America is also a concept or an idea that people of all different races,religions and backgrounds can live together.

47 is trying to Destroy this idea of America and make it cruel and evil. I WILL NOT SURRENDER TO THAT IDEA!! All freedom loving people agree!!

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Dear Joyce, really appreciate your comment, everytime I think about the "concept" of America (to hold on the comparison of countries to "concepts") I think exactly like you describe, a place where the dreams are possible, where the arms are open to everyone who goes in good faith and intentions, regardless of anything else. And I will never cease to believe this as a fundamental concept of 🇺🇸 even considering the current governmemt, because they will soon go, but concepts, just like the fundamental beliefs we carry as people, are not subject to be changed because of a group of criminals like 47 as you said. 💙

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D Jolicoeur's avatar

Ukraine , its leader , its people have become the symbols of all that is good in humanity. Admiration for a country so small , but so mighty … in my lifetime (71 yrs) I’ve never heard of a country so brave , so enduring , so warm and so loving. I look for your words every day. Every day we bleed a little for your country. We pray for your country , you bring your country to our country with your insights , your truths. This war is not endless. You WILL prevail. It WILL get better. I wish the whole world would come together and oust that criminal. Please don’t ever stop sharing your experience. It binds us all together , it allows us to feel your heartache and ache with you. We are praying for you.

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Jenny Rudolph Tuemmler's avatar

You wrote: “No words. No message. Just silence.”

You wrote: “No final post. No goodbye. Just… stop.”

You’re describing death.

Please don’t die. Please don’t allow Ukraine to die. Your courage gives us courage. I wish our idiot in charge could be removed from office so we could help in a more substantial way. That is what I pray for.. and you and your fellow fighters. 🇺🇦❤️

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Viktor Kravchuk's avatar

Thank you Jenny. Hearing (or better reading) that my courage gives you courage is the fundamental idea of the whole article, and I'm so glad you could understand and express that. It reminds me that our fight is the same one but only fought in different continents, wirh different weapons, but we are all aiming the same things which are justice, democracy, decency, freedom, respect. And we will win, because we will never ever give up. And just a side note, you noticed very accurately I was talking about death at the beginning of the piece, this was the place I was almost giving up the article, can you believe? And article about trying to prove myself that I was not giving up, and I almost almost gave up. We are here, in full strength, in full courage, and the article fortunately survived the threat too! 🇺🇦💙

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Jenny Rudolph Tuemmler's avatar

You are one of my heroes. You’re in my heart.

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Robin Lawson's avatar

Dear Viktor, I woke up today feeling more depressed than I have since the day after the U.S. election. Then I found out that the Australians had followed the Canadians in their embrace of democracy. Then I heard that a U.S. judge had fully rejected one of the regime's more egregious illegal power grabs. Then I read again about the enormous protests across the U.S. on May Day. Then I read your latest post.

I learned long ago that no one is in a position to judge the pain of another, and as a corollary, we should never disown our own emotions. The horror that you are living through - along with all Ukrainians whether living there, displaced by war, or the wider diaspora - is your own horror regardless of the experiences of anyone else. That said, I can acknowledge my own feelings of despair while putting them in proper perspective. Indeed, if you can carry on every hour, every day, through all of this barbaric aggression, surely I can continue what I'm doing here to resist. I thank you deeply for the inspiration and for lifting my spirits. Know that I think of you every day and send love. I have often worried that you might disappear from us here. Please try to keep the faith. >Robin

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Jacqueline Garcia's avatar

Ukrainians are so admirable. So very admirable. Strong, stalwart and courageous. I fly your sunflower in my gardens. I root for you and your people. Please don’t give up. We stand with you and your people- all Americans. And we pray for you as we praise your truth and kindness and love. Stay strong!

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Velociraver's avatar

You find neo-nazi ideology "admirable"? 🤔 Attacks on nuclear power plants "admirable"? Murdering journalists "admirable"?

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Libby's avatar

We weep for you, your displaced, your injured, your deceased, your captured soldiers, your kidnapped children. I feel so impotent. All I can do is offer words. Words of how proud we are of each and everyone of you. Your strength, your determination, your stamina and skill. The monster is failing. Soon he will fall. There will be time to celebrate and be reunited with family and friends. Then rebuild and return Ukraine to her former glory. 🩵💛.

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Andrew Katcher's avatar

Beautifully stated and a needed reminder for all of us. Never give in to Russia. Never give in to Putin. And never, never give in to his puppet, Donald J Trump.

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Mark Shields's avatar

your fight IS our fight; your right IS our right

your hero is our hero; your ideal is our ideal

your love is our love; your future is our future

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Nancy Lurry's avatar

We are not alone!!! We have each other!!! And we will fight for all of us!!

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Dave Balderstone's avatar

There is is infinite room in this world for EVERY story.

Never stop.

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C M's avatar

Russia under Putin is pure Evil and we must all fight them in any way we can. He has his wretched hands in evil everywhere. I am sorry that you guys are on the front line. The world needs to join you in this fight. The sooner the better but eventually, you will not be alone. I can assure you. Russia must be stopped and the world is going to have to come together to stop them!✊🏼

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