The Spread of russian Influence and the Erosion of Ukrainian Sovereignty

Two years ago, when russia launched a full-scale invasion, I was naive that the world would finally listen to the cries of the people of Ukraine that #russiankills. The war at that time was in its 8^th year. I was wrong. russian military’s ruthless attacks over the past two years (now ten years of war in total) have killed countless Ukrainian civilians, including children. Homes, schools, hospitals and vital infrastructure have been mercilessly bombed and shelled into rubble. Millions have been forced to flee for their lives, while those who remain face constant fear, deprivation and oppression under a violent occupation. The world does not produce an adequate response to stop the aggression. Ukraine received the first Oscar for a war documentary today. I hope the world will recognize that Oscar is another reminder that #russiankills.

russian forces have systematically worked to obliterate everything that makes Ukraine a proud, distinct nation. They have waged a cruel war of cultural erasure, trying to suppress the Ukrainian language, rewrite Ukrainian history, and wipe out Ukrainian traditions and identity for centuries. The Kremlin seeks to subsume Ukraine into a “russian peace”, stripping away its hard-won independence in 1991.

russia’s assault on Ukraine goes far beyond military conquest. It is a many-pronged offensive to subvert and subjugate all aspects of Ukrainian society – politically, economically, linguistically, religiously, informationally, technologically, and culturally. I first saw the sign outside of social media that showed how russian kills in Lisbon, and it was powerful (see post photo). People need to see those signs not only on Facebook but in real life. russian ballet troupes and Orthodox churches become ominous harbingers of creeping occupation and repression.

In city after city, the arrival of russian tanks, propaganda, and state control has presaged the eradication of Ukrainian self-determination. russia aims to comprehensively hijack Ukraine’s future and very existence as a free nation. This is a genocidal campaign of imperialist domination and destruction targeting the Ukrainian identity itself. Pope Francis believes russian lies and still thinks negotiation with killers is possible.

Russian actions and influence in Ukraine represent an existential threat and an unforgivable evil. Ukraine is facing an all-out assault on its land, people, freedom and fundamental right to exist. The world still cannot see that and, through ignorance, diminish that devastating reality. The suffering and survival of Ukrainians should be the central focus, not abstracted geopolitics.

My role is to bear witness, amplify Ukrainian voices, and support their brave resistance against this terrible tyranny and trauma. The people of Ukraine challenge the People of the free world to do better. Will the People of the free world adequately respond until it is not too late?

Here are additional examples illustrating how russia’s aggression is comprehensively working to erase Ukraine’s identity and existence as a sovereign nation. Each example requires research to highlight victims of war in Ukraine and to highlight #russianCrimesAgainstHumanity; #russianColonialism; #russianImperialism so the world will not deny that when the war is ongoing #russianKills. Thank you to all who keep standing with Ukraine. Stay hopeful despite the world’s inadequate responses to ongoing war.

• First comes russian poetry readings, then comes the silencing of Ukrainian voices.
• First comes russian folk dancing, then comes the trampling of Ukrainian culture.
• First comes russian military parades, and then comes the crushing of Ukrainian spirit.
• First comes the russian school curriculum, and then comes the erasing of Ukrainian history.
• First comes russian medical supplies, and then comes the weakening of Ukrainian health.
• First comes russian construction firms, then comes the dismantling of Ukrainian infrastructure.
• First comes russian youth camps, then comes the indoctrination of Ukrainian children.
• First comes russian film festivals, then comes eclipsing of Ukrainian cinema.
• First comes russian sports teams, then comes sidelining of Ukrainian athletics.
• First comes russian trade deals, then comes the exploitation of Ukrainian resources.
• First comes russian opera singers, then comes drowning out of Ukrainian anthems.
• First comes russian archaeologists, then comes the looting of Ukrainian heritage sites.
• First comes russian radio broadcasts, then comes the jamming of Ukrainian frequencies.
• First comes russian humanitarian aid, and then comes the undermining of Ukrainian relief efforts.
• First comes russian election observers, then comes sabotage of Ukrainian democracy.
• First comes russian mining companies, then comes the pillaging of Ukrainian land.
• First comes russian orchestras, then comes co-opting of Ukrainian composers.
• First comes russian theatre troupes, then comes the suppression of Ukrainian playwrights.
• First comes russian art dealers, then comes the theft of Ukrainian masterpieces.
• First comes russian industrial equipment, and then comes the takeover of Ukrainian manufacturing.
• First comes russian math olympiads, then comes discounting of Ukrainian intellect.
• First comes russian trade unions, then comes disbanding of Ukrainian labour organizations.
• First comes russian medical research, then comes experimenting on Ukrainian patients.
• First comes russian restoration experts, then comes the defacing of Ukrainian monuments.
• First comes russian chess tournaments, then comes the defeat of Ukrainian strategists.
• First comes russian agricultural firms, and then comes the seizure of Ukrainian farmland.
• First comes russian cartographers, then comes redrawing of Ukrainian borders.
• First comes russian wildlife conservation, then comes endangering of Ukrainian species.
• First comes russian engineering projects, and then comes the ruining of the Ukrainian environment.
• First comes russian religious icons, and then comes the banning of Ukrainian sacred symbols.
• First comes russian marine biologists, then comes polluting of Ukrainian waters.
• First comes russian ice skating shows, then comes the melting of Ukrainian goodwill.
• First comes russian circus acts, then comes caging of Ukrainian freedom.
• First comes russian graphic novels, and then comes vilifying of Ukrainian heroes.
• First comes russian stamp collectors, then comes erasing Ukrainian postal history.
• First comes russian gem dealers, then comes the plundering of Ukrainian mineral wealth.
• First comes russian puppeteers, then comes the manipulation of Ukrainian opinions.
• First comes russian psychologists, then comes gaslighting of Ukrainian trauma.
• First comes russian glass blowers, then comes the breaking of Ukrainian windows.
• First comes russian zoologists, then comes caging of Ukrainian fauna.
• First comes russian meteorologists, then comes forecasting Ukrainian doom.
• First comes russian journalists, then comes the burying of Ukrainian truths.
• First comes russian mathematicians, then comes miscalculating Ukrainian resilience.
• First comes russian astronomers, then comes eclipsing of Ukrainian stars.
• First comes russian conductors, then comes the silencing of Ukrainian symphonies.
• First comes russian philosophers, then comes negating of Ukrainian wisdom.
• First comes russian comedy troupes, then comes the tears of Ukrainian children.
• First comes russian travel writers, then comes omitting of Ukrainian destinations.
• First comes russian dog shows, then comes the muzzling of Ukrainian voices.
• First comes the russian language, then comes suppression of the Ukrainian Mother Tongue.
• First comes russian ballet, then comes the crushing of Ukrainian dance.
• First comes russian tourists, then comes the occupation of Ukrainian land.
• First comes russian kokoshnik, then comes the erasure of Ukrainian heritage.
• First comes russian sarafan, then comes the stripping of Ukrainian pride.
• First comes the russian flag, then comes the tearing down of Ukrainian sovereignty.
• First comes russian folk music, and then comes the silencing of Ukrainian songs.
• First comes russian literature, then comes the banning of Ukrainian books.
• First comes russian cuisine, then comes Holodomor.
• First comes russian architecture, then comes the demolishing of Ukrainian homes.
• First comes russian painting, then comes the whitewashing of Ukrainian colours.
• First comes russian theatre, and then comes the final curtain for Ukrainian stages.
• First comes russian cinema, and then comes the fading out of Ukrainian stories.
• First comes russian academia, then comes the expelling of Ukrainian minds.
• First comes russian media, then comes static on Ukrainian screens.
• First comes russian science, then comes experimenting on Ukrainian lives.
• First comes russian technology, then comes surveillance of Ukrainian souls.
• First comes russian fashion, then comes the stitching up of Ukrainian expression.
• First comes russian standup, then comes punching down on Ukrainian spirits.
• First comes russian poetry, then comes the last verse for Ukrainian kobzars.
• First comes russian animation, then comes erasing of the Ukrainian imagination.
• First comes russian gaming, then comes “game over” for Ukrainian play.
• First comes russian TV, and then comes the unplugging of Ukrainian reality.
• First comes russian web content, then comes error 404 for Ukrainian sites.
• First comes russian social media, then comes unfriending of Ukrainian posts.
• First comes russian toy making, then comes breaking of Ukrainian childhoods.
• First comes russian zoos, then comes caging of Ukrainian fauna.
• First comes russian sociology, then comes the manipulation of Ukrainian minds.
• First comes russian astronomy, then comes a black hole for Ukrainian stars.
• First comes russian math, and then comes subtracting Ukrainian sums.
• First comes russian botany, then comes the uprooting of Ukrainian flora.
• First comes russian geology, then comes the fracturing of Ukrainian foundations.
• First comes russian graphic design, and then comes the defacing of Ukrainian images.
• First comes russian photography, then comes negative exposure of Ukrainian sights.
• First comes russian calligraphy, then comes the last letters for Ukrainian pens.
• First comes russian pottery, then comes fragments of Ukrainian urns.
• First comes russian glassblowing, then comes the breaking of Ukrainian windows.
• First comes russian puppetry, then comes cutting of Ukrainian strings.
• First comes russian fireworks, then comes the scorching of Ukrainian earth.

Please keep adding/revising ideas, as the loss from the russian invasion must be well documented. The biggest worry is that other bullies might decide to follow the russians, and so far, Ukrainians are trying to stop the world from global catastrophe. If the world is not able to adequately support People of Ukraine to stop russians, the next bully will fight your country and the destructions will continue. Let’s stop aggressor now when we still can so others will not decide to attack your country sovereignty.

These examples paint a chilling portrait of cultural erasure and oppression, as russia seeks to extinguish the Ukrainian way of life in all its vibrant diversity. Don’t become the next victim of bullies; act now and stand with Ukraine. The resilient spirit of Ukraine, lives on in the hearts of its brave people and global communities that stand with Ukraine. To the world: do not look away, but stand in solidarity until Ukraine’s freedom shines again. Slava Ukraini!