Ukraine Is Not Here to Carry the World

We’re not the voice of the world. We’re the scream of a country still alive.

“What do you think about Palestine?”

“You must say something about Israel!”

“Where is your voice on Iran?”

Lately, many have written to me asking questions like these.

As if being Ukrainian means I now carry the burden of having an opinion about every bomb that falls. Anywhere people are killed for nothing.

Just like Ukraine.

But I can’t.

And I won’t pretend I can.

Even though I’ll always stand for peace, life, and love everywhere, I simply don’t have the means to take a position on everyone, everywhere.

My goal here is to talk about my reality.

About what I see and what I feel.

The absurds of my reality, so it possibly would never happen again in the country you are reading me.

And also in the places people claim that I need to take a stance.

I understand that in most cases, these requests are in deep well-intention and good faith. After all, why not unite all the suffered voices in the world and talk stronger?

But I simply don’t have the resources or knowledge to go deep into every conflict.

Every side in the world has its reasons.

And I am here to tell my reasons, my reality, because this is what I know, and that I live, and that I suffer.

So I tell you my reality with all my heart and honesty:

(Spoiler: there’s no plot twist, Russia is still the villain.)

Russia is the devil in this part of the world, and there’s no way that it can be seen otherwise.

But as of Israel, as of Palestine, as of Iran…

Well, I’m afraid I must leave people from these countries to launch their own Substack.

To tell them about their experiences and explain their opinions like I do here, defending my Ukraine.

But as a Ukrainian, I cannot do anything close for no one.

Also because I am no journalist, I am no historian, I am no political scientist. I’m just a common citizen of Ukraine, opening my heart to raise awareness for my country.

And thanks for so much kindness here, also for therapy to my shattered soul.

But for the record, in my full frankness and honesty, you can be really sure that I am completely in favor of life.

I am completely against conflicts, bombs, despair.

I am completely against countries that attack civilians as a form of war strategy.

And sharply against countries that use terrorism or nuclear bombs as a way of negotiating.

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Well, I changed my mind here. let me take an exception.

Let me share that I have reasons to hate Iran, because of the Shahed drones that Russia uses so much here in Ukraine, and that have caused so much pain.

Including the loss of a 12-year-old daughter of a friend in the city of Kharkiv some time ago.

By an Iranian drone.

So yes, I will not be on the wall for Iran. Please consider that I hate it.

As for Israel and Palestine, please don’t ask me for an opinion I can’t offer.

But I can say that both are in my prayers every single night.

Both people, not the politicians.

And I really hope that both can coexist peacefully and calmly, above everything.

If you live under fear, if your children sleep with sirens.

If you understand that more important than standing by countries is to stand by people who fear for their lives because someone said in another country they don’t deserve to live.

Then I am on your side, no matter what country you call home or you stand for.

Even though I’d like to, I cannot speak for everyone. I don’t pretend to carry a flag for the world.

I carry one flag. A yellow and blue one.

Torn, but still standing. And somehow still asked if I support five other flags too.

And I will keep writing this journal as long as I can still speak.

With all my fears, my doubts, without all the answers.

But because I’m still alive.

And that’s the only answer I can truly give.

🇺🇦

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📖 “The Divine Comedian: Ukraine’s Journey Through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise” is my first book: about Ukraine, seen from inside the fire, and the hope that refuses to die. Download it for free (PDF & Kindle).