Natalia Zadorozhnyuk
Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of North Macedonia
Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine, which started on the night of February 24, 2022, not only showed to the world the strong Ukrainian nation, but also opened the eyes to the bloody regimeof Putin.
June 3 marks 100 days since the start of the war. In these 100 days, Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, doctors and civilians have been giving strong resistance to the Russian invasion. It is horrible, but for 100 days now, the Russians have been stealing, killing civilians, raping women and children, destroying Ukrainian cities and villages.
Today, the whole civilized world stands side by side with the Ukrainian people. We especially appreciate the help of friendly North Macedonia.
The Ukrainian heroic defenders have stopped the advances of the occupiers and have driven away the enemy from the northern direction, have cleared up the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy areas. Russia has now focused its efforts on eastern and southern Ukraine, while the Russians still having the goal to defeat and “denazify” them. The Ukrainians. To DENAZIFY, that is, to destroy the Ukrainian people, to deprive the people of their own nation, to carry out genocide against the Ukrainians.
In the first days we kept asking ourselves how is it possible in the XXI century, in an era of globalization, digitalization, opening of the new space area, to impose one’s own will through a brutal war, through destruction. And now we, the Ukrainians, are fighting united and courageously for Ukraine, for Europe, for democracy and for the right to choose our own future.
What have the Russians and Putin’s regime achieved in this war against a free and democratic state?
- In addition to the numerous killings of peaceful Ukrainian civilians, more than 30,000 Russian attackers have also been killed.
- In addition to the isolation and sanctions that cost them billions, over 200 foreign companies have left the Russian market.
- In addition to the worldwide hatred against Russia, two neutral countries have already submitted applications to join NATO.
The whole world is now facing just one question – how to protect ourselves from the crazy Putin regime? Ukraine has been raising this issue over the last 8 years, since the occupation of Crimea and certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Ukraine tried for things not to come to this, but now we have only one goal – to win.
To do this, we still need support from allies and friends, we need weapons with which we will protect not only our country, but also the whole world from the tyrannical Russian policy.
In these dark times of world history, we must be united, strong and smart. Together we will for sure win.
The text is a personal view of the Author, Н.Е. Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of North Macedonia, Natalia Zadorozhnyuk. Downloading of this content is possible and preferred, according to the terms of the Creative Commons 4.0 license.
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
