design: Cris Montoya
illustration: Ainsley Robare
The blue and yellow flag that hangs outside my grandparents’ house is able to sway in the wind undisturbed; it offers a peaceful sight to those who pass by. But in Ukraine, the yellow and blue flags that reside there struggle to float calmly amidst the chaos that has erupted.
On Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, and it has been heartbreaking watching the horrors that have been taking place overseas. My Ukrainian family and I can only watch from afar and pray that the fighting ends quickly with as few casualties as possible.
I am against all aspects of this invasion and I find it revolting that Russia is taking innocent lives because they feel threatened. Not only that, they claim to feel threatened by Ukraine, a place that is minute in comparison to Russia.
In today’s age, war is far too dangerous to handle disputes because it is no longer a loss of battles, but a loss of population as a consequence of nuclear warfare. This invasion is unreasonable knowing the repercussions of war.
In spite of all the trepidation, it has been astounding watching Ukraine fight back relentlessly. Their refusal to give in has made me extremely proud of my heritage.
My grandpa’s tenacity and strength are significantly above average, but I always assumed that was just his nature. After reading about the fights in Ukraine though, it is evident where he got such resilience. Russia is 28 times the size of Ukraine, but its people will not give up and they are fighting until the end.
At the beginning of the invasion, 13 soldiers were stationed at Snake Island when a Russian boat came and threatened to attack if they refused to surrender. 13 people who barely had a chance, but they still chose to fight.
The amount of unity exhibited across the world is also very reassuring to see. Countries have been sending weapons while other places have put Russian imports on hold. Additionally, bordering countries are allowing people who are fleeing to take refuge.
Russians are even protesting against their own government, an act that is strictly forbidden in Russia. Ukraine is not alone in their battle.
The majority of the civilians are armed and have come together to do whatever is necessary to stop the Russians from progressing. People are risking their lives every day to defend their country despite how frightened they may be.
I have never seen a group so strong-willed and tenacious; their efforts to protect their country and loved ones is admirable. It is my greatest hope that they can take back their home and recover from this mess.
The results of this war are unpredictable and the status of the fight between Ukraine and Russia changes each day. It is possible that other countries could intervene and bring the war to a larger scale or the fighting could end all together if both countries came to an agreement. But, it is my greatest hope that this will come to an end shortly.
In order to help Ukraine, monetary donations can be given to several aid organizations found online like UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross. I am unsure what the future holds, but no matter the outcome, Ukraine deserves support from everyone.
