With this letter I intend to address Mr. Jason Moore and Mr. Pavol Horska, the authors of the recently published “Letters on Ukraine pt. 3”, hoping that they get a point of view from within Ukraine that’s opposite of theirs, and maybe reconsider their opinions on the events of Russo-Ukrainian war.
Dear Mr. Moore,
I want to point out that your letter contains a disturbing thought I deem very similar to lies pushed by the Russian propaganda machine. I don’t know how it came to be that you’ve got such a distorted opinion of events taking place in Ukraine. I do know, however, that the tales of “Ukrainian nazis torturing people” are one of the main tools Russia uses to justify war, massacres and numerous war crimes. Even in the video statement published right before the full-fledged Russian invasion, Putin lied about all of this being just a “special operation” allegedly aimed at “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine.
It’s worth noting that it’s been just one month since the start of the invasion, but Russia already breached multiple wartime-related conventions by killing Ukrainian civilians, using them as human shields, firing at residential areas and medical complexes (see Shelling of Mariupol Maternity Hospital), masking troops with Ukrainian flags and military uniform or Red Cross symbols, using forbidden weaponry such as thermobaric and cluster bombs, blocking, destroying, stealing humanitarian aid and evacuation convoys, firing at nuclear power plants and holding staff hostage (see Chornobyl, Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants). The question is: are you sure you can trust Russian tales of “Ukrainian nazis” after such actions performed by the Russian army?
There are no “pagan Hitler worshippers with the black and red flags” torturing anybody here. Someone lied to you, big time. The people of Ukraine, including tens of thousands of Rusyns, are tortured by their north-eastern neighbor called the Russian Federation. By spreading Russian propaganda and lies you’re only helping Russia torture more.
Mr. Horska,
I understand what it feels like when you deal with refugees from abroad in your country or area—Subcarpathia has been sheltering victims of war for about 8 years now. One can listen to locals and hear a lot of negativity directed towards refugees and their behaviour: some despise them for fleeing the war-torn cities, others accuse refugees of pretentiousness, excessive pride and conflicts with the local population. But even with this taken into account, I cannot understand the violent egoism and ignorance expressed in your letter.
Refugees you’re talking about are not “fake”; those people escape the atrocities of war as the invaders Ukraine is currently dealing with have no idea what Geneva conventions even are.
“Most of Ukraine” is actually in danger. Only one out of 27 administrative regions of Ukraine remains untouched by Russian bombings and troops; the population of that westmost region still gets to hear air raid sirens on a daily basis.
Lastly, in times of war like this, “converting Rusyns” is one of the last things Ukrainians would be thinking of. Let us not fall into resentment, let us not attack sons for the sins of their fathers. We Rusyns must show Ukrainians that they are wrong about us, not by making them suffer, but by helping them during these hard times. We must show them that we will not place our vendetta above human lives.
I’m grateful to the Rusyn Literature Society for giving people this great possibility to exchange opinions and feelings. I hope my message reaches Mr. Jason Moore and Mr. Pavol Horska, as well as anyone reading it.
Search for the truth, stay human and help each other—that is how every one of us can do our part in putting an end to this brutal hybrid war.