Central Michigan Life – Column: Ukraine’s fight for democracy continues, and you have the power to make it happen

While Americans will have to make a life-changing decision this November, there is one part of the world where people's lives changed nearly three years ago and have never been the same since.

Since February 2022, Russia has murdered, tortured, raped, looted and bombed thousands of Ukrainians in a never-ending campaign to erase Ukrainian identity and culture. There is no person in Ukraine who is not affected by this war on a daily basis; each and every one of them bears scars from it.

And I am one of those people, right next to you on the campus of Central Michigan University.

As someone born and raised in Ukraine, I grew up with a deep love for our beautiful traditions, our ancient language, our rich culture and our beautiful country. And one thing that is important to say about this war is that it did not start just three years ago.

Historical relations between Ukraine and Russia

I was 9 years old. It was a winter night. I drank hot chocolate and watched Disney shows, but when I changed the channel, I saw fire, green uniforms, and war.

It was 2014 and Russian soldiers invaded Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

I remember watching TV, terrified that Russia would soon take my home and my life away from me. Since 2014, I still run and hide in the bathroom when I hear a plane nearby.

In 2014, an anti-terrorist operation began and the war continued, but mainly in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In Crimea, Russia held an illegal election and threatened people to vote for annexation to Russia. Russia has also forbidden Government, organizations and media of the indigenous Crimean Tatars.

But Russia has always had imperial preferences and mentality. The systematic oppression of Ukrainians began in the late 17th century. After Ukraine lost the war against Rzeczpospolita (now Poland), signed a protectorate with Moscow. The protectorate promised independence for Ukraine, but Moscow soon broke its promise and occupied our country.

In the next century, the Russian Empire burned down the Cossack state of Zaporizhia Sich and forbidden Ukrainian language, literature, schools and theater.

Some time later, the Soviet Union government exploited the Ukrainian people and country to present the beautiful image of a prosperous state to the Western media. Well, it was a lie.

The Soviet government terrorized the Ukrainian people and caused a man-made famine known as HolodomorIt is a recognized genocide against the Ukrainian people, in which about four million people lost their lives.

The Soviet regime also killed Ukrainian writers and intellectuals. These mass murders were called “Executed Renaissance.” In the death registers, the Soviets wrote that the Cause of death is “Ukrainian”.

The Ukrainian idea and the struggle for independence

But Ukrainian identity and political ideas survived all these repressions. Ukrainians had underground organizations, armies, writer and visionaries who have fought for our independence for four centuries.

Today our struggle continues. It is not only on the battlefield; there are huge information, cultural and educational fronts that are very important.

As one can see, Ukraine and Russia were never “brother states”, despite the Russian propaganda says.

Ukrainians never wanted to be part of Russia, and we are not a unified nation. Ukrainian history begins three centuries before the construction of Moscow.

We never wanted Russia to bring war to our home in the 21st century. There were also no reasons for Russia to attack us other than ambition: the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine has never been discriminated against, and there has been no Nazis in Ukraine.

We do not want this war, and the Ukrainian people only dream of victory for Ukraine, independence in our homeland and safety for our families. But it is very difficult to talk to an attacker who broke into your house and put a gun to your head.

Russia does not want peace, because if it wanted peace, it would never have started this war. Russia has injured every single peace treaty and ceasefire it has signed.

That is why our war continues and we need your help.

Same ideas, same mentality

American values ​​of freedom, independence and democracy have always resonated with Ukrainians. The United States is a model for us of the kind of country we want to see.

We are eternally grateful to every single American who supports us and stands with us. We see you, and your support has saved thousands of us, if not all of us.

And no, your taxes do not go directly to Ukraine. In fact, 90% of American aid to Ukraine stays in the United States, according to the WashingtonPost. The funds do not go directly to Ukraine; they are used to build new weapons for the US and send the old ones to Ukraine. This creates new jobs for Americans and strengthens the American economy.

Because of our location, our natural resources, and our like-minded population, Ukraine can be a very important strategic ally for the United States.

But more important than any strategic issue are the lives and freedoms of the people at stake.

Here in the United States, you have the precious privilege and luxury of being able to vote, to speak out on the issues that affect you, and to fight for the truth.

With your vote this November, you have the power to change my life and the lives of millions of people in Ukraine.

Masha Smahliuk, an international student from Ukraine, is the editor-in-chief of Central Michigan Life. She is a third-year journalism major and political science and creative writing minor.