'Good Russian' ends with Victory Day

Of course, they spoke Russian there, and the 'good Russian' generally said things that were pleasant to our ears about the scoundrel Putin and the heroism of the Armed Forces, which, however, have become banal due to frequent repetition. But as soon as the TV presenter touched upon the date of May 9, which is obviously sacred to every Russian, the guest immediately broke out into a rant and a reminder, saying that we must honestly admit that this is our common history. And that both the war and the victory were shared by Russians and Ukrainians who fought against Hitler. “Although, maybe someone is for Hitler. It depends on how lucky they are…” our 'good Russian' added, not failing to either reproach us or throw a stone of discord for this reason as well.

There is no point in mentioning his name, as it could have been anyone from this cadre of 'good Russians,' but the fact that, unfortunately or fortunately, all the goodness of many 'good Russians' immediately evaporates upon hearing 'May 9' is also a fact. And just as in the old pre-war days it was ironically said that Russian democracy ends with the Ukrainian issue, so now we can say that the goodness of 'good Russians' ends with Victory Day.

And then there's their habit of personifying their enemies down to the person of Hitler. But... if they fought 'against Hitler,' then it must be 'for Stalin,' or vice versa. And if you listen to these good Russians and other Russians, the fact that millions of Ukrainians laid down their lives in World War II 'against Hitler' ('for Stalin') is presented by them as the only possible Ukrainian participation. The 'good Russians' do not realize that the stateless Ukrainians, after the defeat of the UPR (Ukrainian People's Republic - ed.) troops, occupied by Russian-Bolshevik troops, tormented by the Holodomor and repressions, and drugged by Bolshevik propaganda, were actually forced to fight as part of one occupying army against another.

“In fact, Stalin and the Communists were no less evil for Ukraine and Ukrainians than Hitler and the Nazis, and that the only army that fought against both occupiers – the Wehrmacht and the Red Army – was the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.”

They do not understand that in fact, Stalin and the Communists were no less evil for Ukraine and Ukrainians than Hitler and the Nazis, and that the only army that fought against both occupiers, the Wehrmacht and the Red Army, was the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. And the war for the Ukrainian insurgents and the Ukrainian nation did not end with the victory over one of the occupiers, and it has not ended to this day. That is why, as we celebrate May 8, the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, together with the rest of the world, we also remember that the real Victory Day is still ahead of us. Russians, especially the good ones, should already know this. The hosts of the telethon could have reminded them of this from time to time, as they don't have to keep grinding water in a mortar and chewing on it, as is usually the case there.

Specially for Espreso.

About the author: Oleksandr Vilchynskyi, writer, journalist. In 2016-2017, he volunteered and fought as a private in the 1st Detached Assault Company of the Ukrainian Air Force.

The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.