9 Unbelievable Realities That Fuel Ukraine’s Fierce Fight for Freedom
You might think you know Ukraine, but I guarantee these truths will surprise you. Here’s what keeps this nation determined to stay out of Russia’s grip.
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When I first arrived in Ukraine in 1998 as part of a humanitarian trip, I was struck by a country at a crossroads.
Some Ukrainians held a deep nostalgia for the Soviet past, speaking Russian as naturally as breathing, while others, especially those from the Ukrainian diaspora who had returned to their ancestral homeland, were eager to cultivate a renewed Ukrainian identity.
For the next 20 years, I witnessed this complex struggle for identity unfold. Though it seemed like Russia was determined to complicate things, each act of interference, whether gas shutoffs in the middle of winter, inciting rebellion in the east, seizing Crimea, or launching a full-scale invasion, only hardened Ukraine’s resolve.
Today, Ukraine stands more united than ever, fighting for its very existence.
Its national identity forged and strengthened in the face of relentless challenges.
