Near Sloviansk, in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk there is optimism and faith in victory, writes blogger Alexey Arestovich
Dear Friends:
Today, I am going to talk about the good things. When you read the news-feeds for 15 minutes, you get a feeling of total disaster. Yet near Sloviansk, in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk, at the headquarters of the self-defense units, you become filled with optimism and a faith in victory.
As it happens, I am now actively working with the military, self-defense units of different oblasts, and Kyiv. I am dealing with state officials, police, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the guys from the Right Sector. And you know what? I think we are crossing through the mountain pass.
There are so many honest, selfless people, who are sacrificing themselves for the sake of the new Ukraine, and the future. I could have never imagined that, despite all of my optimism.
People are really working. They really want to change the country and the system. They are not taking bribes and are not accepting very attractive schemes. They are truly sacrificing themselves and all that they have.
You know how heavily I criticize the state and the state system. Yet, I was completely struck with amazement seeing that today officials are talking the same way as I am and have started to work to change everything. People believe. Naturally, there are a lot of shortcomings. But the war unites everyone, and makes everything appear simple and crystal clear.
The healthiest atmosphere is at the forefront. You look at the people: they are dirty, sick and unshaven. They haven’t eaten for several days, have suffered losses, being under the fire every day, but are still standing straight and keeping their heads up high. The activists in the occupied cities are risking everything to win the battle. This is a new nation.
And, now, the rear. I went to my local residents’ registration office, and I was amazed by the courtesy of the employees and of the head of the office. I heard: “How are you?”, “How can we help you?”, “Elderly lady, please have a seat, here’s a free one.” And, you know what, I started to cry. We are crossing through the mountain pass, through the total disbelief and lies, through a huge wave of slander and insults, through the losses and hardships.
As a result of the tragic events in Odesa we have reached the breaking point. It was after May 2 when the state started slowly, with rumbling and crumbling, and with sediment, turning towards the people, interacting with the activists. There is a revolution in the minds of the officials.
New people have entered the system who want to change it. Bureaucratic obstacles are falling down. Officials are saying that there is a need to establish horizontal links. Efforts are being made to manage defense affairs without delay. People are helping each other as much as they can.
Even more severe tests are lying ahead of us, but our dear Ukraine will never be the same. She is young and beautiful, as a bride. She will march forward and beneath her feet flowers will blossom. An eternal spring, the spring of our victory is waiting for us. We shall build a totally different future, brand-new and beautiful, and then the whole world will be like that too.
I had thousands of opportunities to leave to different countries. I am so glad that I didn’t. I love you, my Motherland.
Translated by Katherina Smirnova; edited by Olena Wawryshyn
