The events of the last two weeks – Russia’s bloodthirsty invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing humanitarian crisis – have absolutely gutted me.
Despite being an American, my life has intersected with Slavic culture and people in fascinating and delightful ways, for almost as long as I can remember. My mom (also an American) studied Russian in college, and I grew up using simple Russian phrases around the home. In college, I took courses on Russian language and history and ended up cobbling together a minor in Russian Studies upon graduation.
Around that same time, my dad (also an American!) took a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity in Russia. He went alone while I stayed in the U.S. to finish school, and I had several wonderful, whirlwind visits to St. Petersburg and various Baltic states during his time living overseas.
More recently, I found myself living in a city in the U.S. that is a sister city to a good-sized municipality in western Ukraine – once again providing an opportunity for cultural exchange and learning through visiting delegations.
Simply put – I have learned to love Slavic cultures and have had many enriching experiences over the years. When I first got online in the 1990s, I chose the handle “Comrade,” as a harmless identifier in web forums. It pains me deeply to see Russia squandering all the progress it had made towards democracy and open relations with the West, and I am totally devastated by the loss of life in Ukraine. Слава Україні!
If you are looking for a charity to support, the Sister Cities Association in my town has started a GoFundMe to support the humanitarian and relief efforts as refugees pour into the city of Uzhhorod in western Ukraine. Uzhhorod is a relatively safe area, and far from the war, and they have become a magnet for refugees fleeing the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
It’s tragic what’s happening. Hopefully an agreeable solution can eventually be found but short of Putin’s death I’m struggling to see one.
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